Photo taken by Conservancy staff at a Conservancy preserve, 2025.
With this article is a photo of a Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) in flight. It’s on one of the Conservancy’s marsh complexes.
While the Conservancy has prepared the preserves mostly for the benefit of the Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), at least among raptors, the Great horned owl has moved in and is quite prominent on the preserves. It’s a powerful bird, and it makes life miserable for Swainson’s hawk and many other important species, but is nonetheless an important part of the ecosystem.
This photo shows the immensity of the wings of the Great horned owl flying low on the Conservancy’s preserves. Just imagine the “lifting power” these wings can provide. It’s pretty awesome to see a bird of this stature on the preserves.
