What's that sound? Great horned owls are making noise in the Twin Cities

Have you heard this sound recently?

https://soundcloud.com/mprnews/the-hoot-of-a-great-horned-owl

That's the hoot of the great horned owl.

The owls are breeding along the Mississippi River, and they're hooting like crazy.

Sharon Stiteler, also known as Birdchick, said many of the owls actually take over old hawk and squirrel nests around this time of year to lay their eggs.

Now that the Mississippi is freezing up, Stiteler said, great horned owls and plenty of other birds are out looking for fishing holes where there's still open water. To catch a glimpse of a swan, bald eagle or maybe even a kingfisher this time year, Stiteler suggests heading to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area where there are landings that offer a good view.