November 29 - December 5 Discover Nature this week as Great Horned Owls begin to court. These large, nocturnal birds occur in deep forests, open areas with small woodlots and sometimes in urban areas. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Great Horned Owls initiate nesting earlier in the year than any other Missouri native bird. Of the four kinds of owls that reside in Missouri year round, only the great horned owl has a thriving population. The remainder is declining in numbers,