"Love is in the Air", sung and written in 1978 by John Paul Young,  is particularly significant during February days and nights. After all, it is the month of love!  Not only are humans snuggling and canoodling, but as Valentines Day approaches, our feathered friends are also having their own love fest.    

Winter is the time of year when large raptors mate. At night, you might hear owls calling, in hopes of attracting their lifelong partner to perch together and share a meal.  Owl Moon, a favorite book once read to my young son, is the story of a walk by dad and child during a nighttime search for the Great Horned Owl (GHO). As they crunch through snow, taking great care to be quiet, they reach a line of pine trees where Pa calls, "Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo", awaiting a response.  

According to the Audubon Society of Western PA, February is the start of mating season for GHOs, one of the earliest mating avian species in North America. Their nesting habitat is tree snags, or former nests used by hawks or other large birds. Indeed, love is in the air for Great Horned Owls.  

Bald Eagles also mate in February with pairs also lifelong partners. The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, in partnership with PixCams, provides live viewing of the Pittsburgh Hays Bald Eagle Nest. Watching eagles is not for the faint of heart! Displays of courtship, mating, fights to the death rival operas like Aida or Tosca. Not to mention diet.

An eagle's nest is a significant architectural feat and is readied and tended in late autumn/early winter. A nest can be as large as 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep, weighing hundreds of pounds. Usually, 2 eggs are laid in early March, after the love fest of February. How fortunate to have a view into the struggles and successes of our beloved pair of eagles. Love is certainly in the air for our Pittsburgh Hays Bald Eagles.  

Un bell'amore! The human celebration of a beautiful love with flowers and candy and small gifts is the perfect way to celebrate. Thankfully, love is in the air here too.