Great Horned Owls make a home on campus.

It’s common for new families to flock to Wind Point, drawn to our campus by the welcoming demeanor of everyone who calls Prairie home.

Rarely, however, do those families decide to nest in our evergreens.

Earlier this week, Prairie faculty members were made aware that a family of Great Horned Owls had decided to build a nest in one of the campus pine trees. However, due to the substantial spring gusts common to our windy home across from Lake Michigan, two of the babies were knocked from their nest.

Working with professionals from Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, members of the Prairie facility team were able to rescue the babies, placing them in a nesting basket and returning them to their mother.

“The Great Horned Owl is an extremely adaptable breed,” says Kayla Matz, Upper School Science Teacher. “They are common as far north as the Arctic and as far south as South America. They typically just select a tall tree that looks suitable for their needs – our campus must have looked like an inviting spot.”

We look forward to welcoming our new guests as the spring progresses, providing a watchful eye to ensure they are safely acclimated to their new surroundings.

“The babies will stay with their mother through October or so,” says Matz. “After that they’ll remain in the nearby area for a while as they leave the nest and begin to hunt.”