Fortress

The most ubiquitous of North American owls is the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), which claims year round residency throughout the continent. In the Sonoran desert, they will occupy old hawk nests among the limbs of saguaros, but do not build their own. This mama owl has returned for a second year to her cactus fortress along a trail in the Sonoran Preserve in north central Phoenix. 

Interstate highway 17 hums just two miles west of this nest. She is able to amply provide for her brood with squirrels and rabbits that are abundant in both the surrounding desert preserve and sprawling neighborhoods below.