Dave Nunnalleee wrote:

> 1. The vast majority of owl sightings are made by a very few birders. Try
...
> 2. The vast majority of owl sightings are made in the same localities, by
...
> 3. Serendipitous owl sightings are really pretty uncommon, save for obvious
> species such as Short-eared and Great Horned Owls.
...
> In view of the above, I suggest that you were either very lucky or very
> talented to find your two Saw-whets in an unknown location.

I don't think anymore that the fault lies with the owls. Over the last
months, I saw (SAW) more owls than during my whole life before; not just
those which are signposted (Reifel) or hunting in daylight (Short-eared)
but also 2 Saw-whet Owls and a Pigmy Owl in locations which were not known
as roosts to me. What changed was that I got a idea what proper habitat
might mean (Thanks to Dick Cannings), and that I pay more attention to the
conifers and noise of other birds. Both Saw-whet Owls were indicated by
Chicadees or Juncos - but who does check a conifer on a CBC when he hears
'only' a Junco in there? And the Pigmy Owl was harassed by hummingbirds
before sunset. A lot of noise but, still, it would be easy to walk away
thinking: Noisy hummingbirds.
The case of the Short-eared Owls actually supports the idea that it's the
birdwatchers flaw: they are day-active, but surprisingly few have seen
them. But then: Who is out on a wintery day on a dyke, or along the reed,
looking for them? (not me, until recently)

Now, where are the Screech Owls?

Reto Riesen
Dept. Chemistry
UBC
Vancouver, B.C.
riesenr at chem.ubc.ca