This "window" is an opening to the cavity where Penelope, Junior's mate, has hatched her eggs in previous years. We hope she is there this spring. The owlets should have hatched around the first of April and will emerge near mid-May. The opening is too small for even baby owls to use. They have to climb up inside the tree to an opening where Junior roosts.
This is part of a Great Blue Heron rookery. It is located on Killbuck Creek several miles upstream from Anderson. The location is typical of Herons, being near water, in a remote location, and it will be totally hidden as soon as the trees leaf out. There are four herons in this picture and at least as many nests. There are about a dozen nests in the whole rookery, but we don't know if they are all in use.
Look carefully at the nest on the left. The head of a female heron can be seen sticking out of the nest.
We're not sure what bird is building this nest, perhaps a Cardinal. It is in heavy brush on the edge of Killbuck Creek.
This is the nest of a Baltimore Oriole. The Baltimore Orioles build their nest suspended from tree limbs. They sway in the breeze and look very precarious, but we've never known one to fall. The oriole has used nylon fish line, found around Shadyside Lake to securely tie its nest to the tree.