Eagle owls breeding in city center (1 Viewer)

orniodesigns

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2011

• #1

For those who are travelling in Helsinki:

Eagle owls are confirmed breeding in Helsinki city center. Breeding site is on roof top of shopping center located between central railway station and bus station. They choose probably busiest place in the town! Their diet consists (originally feral) rabbits, rats and birds.

Nest can be vieved from Sokos Hotel Vaakuna and the owls high in roof of shopping center Forum. The roof itself is ofcource inaccessible. There is several eagle owl territories in Helsinki.

http://www.birdlife.fi/tiedotteet/kuvat/huuhkaja%207.3.2011%20Marja%20Saarinen.JPG

 

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Mar 14, 2011

• #2

I remember back in the '70s ( and possibly the '80s ) a pair of Eagle Owl nested on the cliff between the two halves of Luxembourg ( city ). You could sit in a bar and watch them leave the nest site and, on occsion, watch them trying to catch cats in the city itself. Birding at it's finest ( or laziest )

Chris

 

orniodesigns

Well-known member

• Mar 17, 2011

• #3

Here is video from evening news.

In finninsh, but you will get good idea of the breeding conditions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h84E67yuum4

 

H

Himalaya

Well-known member

• Mar 17, 2011

• #4

if a cat is alert can an eagle owl subdue it or is the surprise factor very important?

 

P

Pugs1

Well-known member

• Mar 20, 2011

• #5

The cat has a 'Cat in hells chance'

 

orniodesigns

Well-known member

• Apr 8, 2011

• #6

Youngs are growing nicely!

 

Daniel Martin

Well-known member

• Apr 8, 2011

• #7

orniodesigns said:

Youngs are growing nicely!

Click to expand...

How cool to have them so available! Our peregrines in Derby nest on an open ledge/platform, but even they are not as easy to see as these cracking birds.

 

orniodesigns

Well-known member

• Apr 8, 2011

• #8

Many birders are worried what happens when fledlings come down to road level. Eagle owls are known to be agressive if humans go close to their fledlings.

 

orniodesigns

Well-known member

• Apr 18, 2011

• #9

Firs fledling left the roof and it landed in the midle of road on trolley rails. Luckily guards of the shopping center took it to a box and later after ringing it was released back to the roof. After couple of days it is probably strong enough to fly properly.

http://is12.snstatic.fi/kuvat/huuhkaja1/img-1288438952388.jpeg

http://s.omakaupunki.hs.fi/news/images/uploads/1135265505183.540x405.jpg

 

June Atkinson

Well-known member

• Apr 18, 2011

• #10

What a baby!!

My goodness; what an enormous chick!

orniodesigns said:

Firs fledling left the roof and it landed in the midle of road on trolley rails. Luckily guards of the shopping center took it to a box and later after ringing it was released back to the roof. After couple of days it is probably strong enough to fly properly.

http://is12.snstatic.fi/kuvat/huuhkaja1/img-1288438952388.jpeg

http://s.omakaupunki.hs.fi/news/images/uploads/1135265505183.540x405.jpg

Click to expand...

 

Marmot

Well-known member

• Apr 19, 2011

• #11

Well done those Eagle Owls for surviving, they certainly shot up in size in a couple of weeks.

About 4 years ago in Middlesbroughs Town Centre an Eagle Owl took up residence for about 6 months, it became known for its diving at people and chasing and catching the local feral Pigeons. IN the end it was found to be an escapee and the person that owned it managed to catch it. At that time I used to finish work at midnight and one night I came out and it was sat in one of the nearby buildings and started to hoot, it was quite eerie. Here is a piece from the BBC website that showed some of its photos.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/content/image_galleries/owl_gallery.shtml?1

 

Last edited: Apr 19, 2011

orniodesigns

Well-known member

• Apr 20, 2011

• #12

Youngest chick had to be saved too:

It landed just over pedestrian, where parents would not dare to come with food.

http://omakaupunki.hs.fi/keskusta/uutiset/yksinaan_seikkaillut_huuhkajanpoikanen_pelastettiin_taas/

More pictures from arrow.

http://is11.snstatic.fi/kuvat/huuhkaja/img-1288440530028.jpeg

 

Last edited: Apr 20, 2011

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• Apr 20, 2011

• #13

Super picture that second one :t:

 

orniodesigns

Well-known member

• Apr 25, 2011

• #14

Last chick left the roof and this one had the worst performance. It landed on the busiest road in the country and was saved.

Great pictures in Tarsiger:

http://www.tarsiger.com/images/Soiska/bubo240411_3241.jpg

http://www.tarsiger.com/images/Soiska/bubo240411_3247.jpg

http://www.tarsiger.com/images/Soiska/bubo240411_3322.jpg

http://www.tarsiger.com/images/Soiska/bubo240411_3328.jpg

 

orniodesigns

Well-known member

• Apr 26, 2011

• #15

I wonder when guards of shopping center will start to hate these owls. Saving these chicks is becoming a daily routine for them... Here is video from today:

http://www.hs.fi/videot/1135265657636

 

Marmot

Well-known member

• Apr 26, 2011

• #16

I love the one with it sat outside your Southern Fried Chicken store.....it probably seemed a really good choice to the parents when they chose this area but.

 

Nightranger

Senior Moment

• Apr 28, 2011

• #17

I can't wait for the first RSPB eagle owl watch at Dover.

 

MarkHows

Mostly Mammals

• May 25, 2011

• #18

I am coming over to Finland in a couple of days are there any Eagle owls visible at the moment?

Thanks

Mark

 

orniodesigns

Well-known member

• May 26, 2011

• #19

They are still there. This house is regular for the male and juveniles have been on roofs next houses to north.

http://kansalaisen.karttapaikka.fi/linkki?scale=8000&text=Bubo&srs=EPSG%3A3067&y=6672068&x=385593&lang=fi

 

MarkHows

Mostly Mammals

• May 26, 2011

• #20

Thanks I will take a look, off to the airport soon.

Mark