West Bend, WI – It was Spring of 2024 and the community of West Bend, Wi, was wrapped up in the wildlife drama of the Potted Owls at Rivershores. At the time a pair of Great Horned Owls were nesting in a flowerpot on the second-story balcony of a condo and their owners, Christine and John Moczynski were documenting their new-found family.
If you remember, the owls were dubbed River and Oscar and as everyone embraced the story, the news went national. Sadly, there were no owlets as Mother Nature swooped in with a grim ending, but Christine and John did wonder if lightning could strike twice, and the owls would be back this year.
“We were hoping, and we had set it up last fall,” Christine said. “It was brought to our attention by some experts that when they came here in the middle of March last year and they likely had a second clutch because something happened to their first nest. Typically, Great Horned owls nest between late January and mid-February, so we were ready for them to try again.”
Despite the couple’s best efforts to prepare, this year, the owls have passed on the opportunity.
Christine and John even set up a carefully crafted nest area, taking steps to modify the balcony’s surroundings to make it more inviting. “We got rid of the grill,” said Christine. “Which we think may have acted as a wind barrier. We’re now looking into building more shelter around the nest area to see if that might make it more attractive.”
While the owls may have skipped the balcony this time, Christine hasn’t given up. “We’ll keep trying,” she said.
Reflecting on how the owls impacted their daily routine, Christine recalled how she and John adjusted their lifestyle to ensure the owls had the peace they needed. “We changed everything about how we live for her comfort and safety,” Christine said. “No loud noises, no messing with the blinds. We even switched to watching British murder mysteries because the owl didn’t mind the softer soundtracks!”
However, the 2-month saga ended with a bittersweet chapter. The owlets didn’t hatch, and after some time, the owls departed, leaving behind only memories and lessons in nature.
“It was sad that neither egg hatched,” said Christine. “One she actually ate the night before she left, and the other didn’t seem to develop. But in the wild, that’s nature. Sometimes things don’t work out, and they have to move on.”
Although the owl didn’t return to the nest this spring, Christine remains optimistic. “We made a half-wine barrel nest this year, hoping it might be more appealing to her if she decides to return. And we’ve also put up an owl box, just in case another species like a screech or kestrel decides to settle in.”
In the meantime, Christine can still hear owls hooting in the distance, echoing over the river nearby; she takes comfort in the idea that the owls haven’t strayed too far. “We hear them hooting some nights. It could be them, since this is their territory,” she said. “We’ll keep trying, and maybe someday, we’ll see them back here again.”
Below is the end of last year’s story about the Potted Owls.
April 15, 2024 – West Bend, Wi – Neighbors in West Bend, WI, and across the country have been following the much-loved story of River and Oscar, the Great Horned owls that nested in a flowerpot on the balcony at Rivershores in West Bend, WI.
