UPDATE: On Sunday, April 9th,
one of the owlets either fell, was pushed,
or was a bit overconfident. The result was, he was grounded. He
sought shelter in the bushes next to the courthouse, but eventually ended up
(or down) in a window well. Animal Control was called to rescue the
youngster, which
they did. He was relocated to the roof of the
courthouse where mom flew down to comfort him. As of Tuesday morning
April 11th, the owls had departed the nest. On Wednesday
morning, one owl was still in the original tree. Another had moved to
the tree directly north of the building. The third owlet was in a tree
south of the courthouse and across the street. Bob Andrini got this
shot of the wayward bird in the window well. On Sunday, April 16th,
two juveniles and one parent were spotted in the block south of the
courthouse.
The following article appeared in The Kane County Chronicle on Monday, March 27th:
The towering larch tree on the old
courthouse lawn apparently is a good place to raise a family.
As word quickly spreads throughout town that the famed owls are back and
that their nest is full, the tree also is attracting many spectators.
"I didn't know they were back here until one day I was driving by and saw
everyone out here," said Tom Konen, who works across the street from the
Kane County old courthouse on Third Street.
Last year, crowds of people surrounded the more than 100-year-old tree
each day, trying to catch a glimpse of the great horned owls nested there
with their owlets.
Last week, Konen stood with other admirers, armed with binoculars and
cameras, circling the tree looking for the best vantage point to see the
three owlets or the proud parents.
Great horned owls are native to this area. Becky Lambert, superintendent
of natural areas and interpretation at Peck Farm Park, said it is not
unusual for them to nest in the same location year after year.
"Especially if remnants of their nest remained, they'll come back and
reuse that same nest," Lambert said. "If they can find a place where they
don't feel bothered, and it provides the food that they need, they're
probably happy."
People in Geneva seem to be happy, too.
As soon as a couple of people start owl-watching, more are attracted to
the area.
"To see them in a downtown area is kind of unusual," said Gil Rios, who
works with Konen near the courthouse and walks over to see the owls up to
three times a day.
Cheryl Link and her sister, Caryl Anderson, were driving through downtown
Geneva when they saw Konen and Rios standing on the courthouse lawn, staring
upward and pointing.
They knew – the owls must be back.
"We thought we'd stop and take a look," Link said. "Once everybody finds
out, you can't get too close."
The added foot traffic is even helping a nearby business.
Ed O'Connell, owner of The Olive Mill on James Street, said he has about
ten extra customers a day, thanks to the owls.
"They come in with their cameras and their binoculars," he said.
O'Connell's store offers olive oil tastings and was unknown to these new
customers before the owl watching, he said.
There now is a sign in his window welcoming owl lovers.
To be sure the owls aren't bothered, a snow fence was erected around the
tree last year.
This time, though, Link and Anderson were near enough for Anderson's
4-year-old daughter Regan to see feathers near the base of the tree.
"Mom, I think it's a white owl," she said, pointing to the snow-white
feathers by her feet.
By KELLEY CASINO
kcasino@kcchronicle.com
This page last updated Wednesday August 22, 2007.
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