Astrid's Adventures

 

Understanding the Secret Life of an Urban Great Horned Owl

For many parkgoers, seeing one of Forest Park’s charismatic Great Horned Owls is a highlight of their visit. With their iconic feathery horns, these owls are both beautiful and secretive.

 
 

Astrid and a young chick at their roost

 
 

However, in our recent Forest Park Living Lab study, we wanted to shed light on the lives of these nocturnal birds living alongside us in Saint Louis city.

Using a GPS backpack, we followed Astrid, a female Great Horned Owl that regularly nests near Prairie Boardwalk on the East end of the park, to see how she moves about and what she eats throughout Missouri's seasons.

 
 

Prey remains collected from owl pellets used to determine Astrid's diet in the park

 
 

By following this individual for one year, the Forest Park Living Lab has contributed key information on the lives of urban Great Horned Owls. For more information on Astrid’s amazing story, please check out the scientific article.

By: Arina Martin and the FPLL team

 
Kaitlin Moorhead