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Shades Creek Greenway Extension on February 18, 2024 (Pat Byington/Bham Now)The Homewood City Council has approved plans to help deal with a recent string of incidents involving territorial behavior by owls around the Shades Creek Greenway. Residents have reported being dive-bombed by the birds in recent months, according to the Homewood Star.
Multiple people reported on social media in September and October that they were attacked by what they identified as barred owls, claiming the birds grabbed their hair or stole their hats as they ran or walked on the Shades Creek Greenway trails. Alabama Wildlife Center executive director Chris Sykes appeared before the Homewood City Council to propose a solution to the problem, recommending that nesting boxes be installed in the area to encourage the owls to migrate away from the more populated portions of the Shades Creek Greenway.
The city council approved the measure along with the installation of signs warning runners to watch out for territorial owls.
Shades Creek Greenway Extension on February 18, 2024 (Pat Byington/Bham Now)The council reportedly also expressed interest in further investments in the Shades Creek Greenway, including some educational elements.
“I foresee that area turning into almost like a Homewood Botanical Gardens. The area in the middle already has walking paths. Bee hives, birdhouses, bat houses, native plants, outdoor classrooms, and signage. It’s so underutilized.”
-Chris Sykes, Alabama Wildlife Center executive director
Have you or someone you know been targeted by the Lakeshore Owls? Tell us about it by posting your story and tagging Bham Now on social media.
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