Very aggressive flock of owls

[Traceee]

Are there any owl experts here as we have a problem which has been happening over the last two weeks. My daughter came running screaming into our bedroom saying that she heard a loud noise and seen a face at the window which was strange as she's on the third floor but my husband went to check it out anyway but found nothing. This happened every night so I spent the night there and at around 3am I heard several loud thuds and called my husband who opened the curtain just in time to see an owl flying at full speed into the window and slamming into it before flying away and then another different coloured owl would do the same, my husband counted 12 different owls doing this and this has been happening consistently at 3am every morning, we've tried candles, leaving the light on, a horror mask on the windowsill and my husband even bought a large stuffed hawk from the taxidermists but they still attack the window, they all seem to be living in the large tree that's alongside our house if that's any relevance?
Does anyone know why owls do this? Are they in heat, angry for some reason? Are we in any danger if they decide to attack us if we come home late one day?

[Traceee]

I'd like to add that we are not looking for anything to kill the owls but tips on how to scare them.
Would my husband be in any danger if he boarded up their holes?
Would it be easy for them to find another home?

[rowanwitch]

owls don't form flocks I am confused are you in the UK?

[mccfluff]

i never knew owls flocked, i always had the impression they were solitary

[rowanwitch]

they certainly never form mixed species flocks as they are very much niche predators

They do not attack humans unless you are too close to a nest and they will hiss or 'dive bomb'

[mccfluff]

my they've been watching legend of the guardian

[rowanwitch]

methinks thou art right Ms Fluff... you could lend them Murphy that will scare them,,,

[Traceee]

I also thought they were solitary but there were definitely 12 of them attack our window. I'm not sure whether there's nests there but my husband was up the tree a few weeks ago trimming the branches with a chainsaw.

[mccfluff]

this has got to be one bloody big tree

[rowanwitch]

A single owl will fly into a window if it thinks it is a way through to another space...close your curtains

[Traceee]

The curtains are always closed. I've just had a brainwave, I can phone the rspb and ask whether they can send an owl expert down to get to the bottom of this as they must be injuring themselves.
Okay thanks everyone.

[Nosha123]

is there anything you can hang up OUTSIDE the window? That they would then see... a large branch??? to stop them trying to fly through the glass??? Maybe they are seeing a reflection of the moon so think its an open hole????

All a bit Alfred Hitchcock if you ask me!!!! sccccaryy!!!!

[rowanwitch]

a lot unlikely if you ask me...

[grasscarp]

A question for the Vulcan42 Owl Sanctuary!

[craft1948]

I thought a flock of owls was called a parliament.......

[chaptazbru]

I wonder how long it will be before this one is suspended !!!!

[Charity]

Could they be winged monkeys?

[grasscarp]

I dont know but when I read about the child being on the 3rd floor of this house - che? the husband counting 12 different owls - how did he know they were all different? - and purchasing a stuffed hawk from a taxidermist, and what if we come home late on day? (but they only come at 3am!) I kind of thought this is some weird first post.

[rowanwitch]

entertaining though

[Traceee]

I can assure you that things like this (See above video) happen and has been quite traumatic for my daughter.
Anyway the good news is that the rspb have a guy in my area tomorrow morning so will be coming at 10:00 so I'll get a proper answer and reason from him and post it up for some of you non believers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QCJGkBLJYQ