‘HOO’ HAS MOVED INTO A LOCAL CHICAGO PARK? THE LONG-EARED OWL
Release Date: 01/16/08
Long-ear owls are roosting in a tiny city park at an undisclosed location, right in the middle of a noisy urban oasis in Chicago. The Chicago Park District’s south side park is the new home to eight to ten long-eared owls, standing 14-inches tall with long, relatively close set “ear” tufts and large yellow eyes.
“The Chicago Park District strives to provide a welcoming habitat for all visitors, including our fury ones,” said Tim Mitchell, General Superintendent of the Chicago Park District. “The Park District and the Mayor’s Bird Agenda have been working on conservation efforts that would provide a habitat that would attract a variety of migrating birds to our City. We hope our new visitors’ enjoy their stay and look forward to their return next winter.”
Spotted by birding enthusiasts, these owls are a rare sight to see smack in the middle of the city. Typically, this species of bird opts for more densely populated woodlands and hedgerows, isolated tree groves in meadows and fields during the winter season. Strangely, their current location is four pine trees surrounded by housing, elementary school, busy expressways, roads and train station.
These owls are nocturnal and people-wary and would be typically quite difficult to observe. Such owls feast on rodents and are likely surviving on mice but perhaps some city rats and bunnies. Recently, they have been removed from the Illinois state endangered species list.
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