There are babies on the way in Jaycee Park, Artesia’s largest city park! That’s right! A nesting mama long eared owl will raise a family inside of the park. Artesia always takes care of its own, and this family of owls is getting a bit of a hand from citizens in the crowd control department. Not only is the tree where the nest is located sectioned off from traffic which would normally pass directly beneath the branches, but someone has taken the time to explain the reason for the detour to park-goers. On several of the cones are posters. The posters featuring long eared owls read, “Please don’t get too close. Owls nesting” and “please keep a distance, babies on the way.”

With the nest safe from the din and everyday bustle of traffic, Artesia can wait with baited breath until the arrival of the owlets. Female long eared owls lay between 2-10 eggs and incubate them for 26-28 days. After hatching, owlets take around 5 weeks in the nest before attempting a short flight.

There are 13 species of owls who call New Mexico home for at least part of the year. New Mexico dwelling owls are the Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Flammulated Owl, Whiskered Screech-owl,  Western Screech-owls, Northern Pygmy Owl, Elf Owl, Burrowing Owl, Mexican Spotted Owl, and the Boreal Owl.