Tusculum University receives unexpected visitors: two baby great-horned owls and least one of the adults

GREENEVILLE – Two recently hatched great-horned owls have created a biology buzz at Tusculum University by bucking normal trends and spending the early stages of their lives in wide open areas on campus.

Recently, faculty and staff discovered the two owls in trees on campus, with a professor helping one of them that apparently had fallen to the ground after unsuccessfully trying to fly. Others have seen the mother or father of the two owls in a nearby area on campus since early in the spring semester and have observed them come to the trees where the newborns are.

Dr. Mike Bodary poses with the owl he placed back in a tree.

Jordan Baker, a biology instructor, said it is an unusual sight.

“To see them on campus and for our students to be able to see them this close without having to go into the woods or a more forested area is rather uncommon,” Baker said. “There are some squirrels and small birds in the area, so there is a food supply for the owls while they are here. They are about ready to start flight, so we’re not sure how long they’re going to be here. But this has been a great opportunity to view the owls and appreciate this special gift to the campus.”

The baby great-horned owls’ ages are unknown, but Baker said this species is an early breeder among birds. He informed his general biology classes about the presence of the owls so they can visit, Dr. Conor Keitzer brought his environmental science class to see them. Baker said the university believes the two owls were hatched on campus.

This is one of the great-horned owls that has spent time in trees on the Tusculum University campus.

“The great-horned owl is one of the larger owls, and their feathers are what provide the horn-like shape,” Baker said. “The feathers look as if they stand up like horns, so they are pretty easy to identify.”

As the baby owls continue their growth, Dr. Mike Bodary, an assistant professor of English, came to the rescue for one. Dr. Angela Keaton, an associate professor of history, had texted him about an owl on the ground and asked him for assistance. With help from other Tusculum employees, Dr.Bodary, a master falconer, came to the site, scooped up the owl and placed it back in a nearby tree. The owl was unharmed from the fall.

This is another one of the great-horned owls that has spent time in trees on the Tusculum University campus.

“He was probably trying to learn how to fly,” Dr. Bodary said. “I think both of them are going to be in good shape as they advance to the next stage of development. While they might leave us at some point, it has been exciting to have them on campus.”

To view a video about the owls, please visit https://youtu.be/rP6IKm42f8I.