Dennis:
>The Whiskered is the only NA owl I haven't seen, and now that darned
>Spotted Owl reduced the population by one! No wonder the loggers don't
>like 'em.

I've seen an owl Dennis hasn't? REALLY? My gawd, my image of him
is shattered. A regular rip in the 'ole godly fabric, there, dude.

Not only have I seen one (and heard others - I think, at least - you'll
understand my hesitation in a moment) but I have a good story. Since
we've been discussing various owls being called in when hooting for
other species...

In SE AZ, camped in a place full of bird-nerds, I was wandering about
along nearby trails at dusk. I heard, in the distance, the somewhat
distinctive (from our screech's "bouncing ping-pong ball") whiskered
screech owl. I'd been down there a couple of weeks and had gotten
pretty good at imitating them, so did so. A few moments later there
was a repeat, somewhat nearer. I moved in that direction and did
my thing again. The response came soon, again nearer. Repeat two
or three times. Then, breaking twigs and whispered talk, followed by
about 1/2 dozen birders from California with a tape recorder.

I was tempted to just keep my mouth shut but relented and told the
truth. They were humored rather than pissed, and we actually travelled
together afterwards for several days. It turned out they were raptor
banders from the project at the Marin Headlands, the next fall after
the Goshutes season had moved to the snow-and-freeze-your-butt part
of the experience I left and stayed with a couple from that group.
The fella was a retired jet fighter pilot. The woman a retired
professional race car driver. They were not only into catching
raptors but into dicky birds. I trapped with the woman one
day and captured and banded a redtail weighing (gasp) about 680
grams - about four ounces more than our average female adult
Coops in these parts!

So - seeking whiskered screech owl is a highly recommended pastime.

Actually, this was only one of the bizarre incidents on this
trip. SE AZ at the peak end of July/early August birding season
is very interesting.


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>