On April 7, Environmental Conservation Officer Christopher DeRose received a call from a Nassau County, Long Island, wildlife rehabilitator reporting a group of photographers setting up close to the active nest of a great horned owl and her chicks, who they believed were harassing the birds as they attempted to get photographs.
Officer DeRose reported that he responded and observed the group on a bike trail with some of them pushing through the nearby brush toward the base of the tree to get closer to the owls.
The ECO said he advised the photographers of regulations prohibiting harassment of wildlife, as well as the importance of observing them at a safe distance, and the group complied.
DeRose then taped off a barrier surrounding the tree as a reminder.
The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas. They grow 18-25 inches tall with a 4-5 foot wingspan and weigh about three pounds.
Learn more about owls in New York State.
