For the past several years, two Great Horned Owls have raised their young at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Southwest Austin (www.wildflower.org/owl). The owls are back this year, and the female was first spotted on her nest on Feb. 4. From her unorthodox perch in a sotol planter at the center’s entrance, the nesting female (seen above) keeps a wary eye on the daily stream of human foot traffic that passes beneath her.

On Saturday, I spent some time photographing and observing the mother owl, delighting in people’s responses when they spotted her. Most were thrilled to see such wildness plainly visible in the wide open. Some thought the owl was a decoy. Yes, I responded to one person. That is a real Great Horned Owl. And we are real lucky to be getting to see her.

I can’t wait to see the babies!