I heard juvenile Great Horned and Barred Owls screech like you describe
while on the nest and also I've heard this spooky bill clicking (at least I
think that is what they are clicking).
Tracee Geernaert
tracee at iphc.washington.edu
>Hi all-

>I have a question for the experts on Tweeters about the Great Horned Owls
>in my neighborhood. For the past several weeks I have been hearing
>'screeching' vocalizations. They sound like VERY LOUD fingernails on a
chalkboard (I wonder whether younger generations will know this analogy?).

>They are definitely GHOWs, since they can be clearly seen silhouetted
>against the sky at dusk. There are typical GHOW hoots in the area at the
>same time, but from different owls in different trees. Last night there
>were two screeching owls, and two hooting ones, and one of the hooters was
>lower in pitch than the other. I remember hearing these vocalization
>other years also.

>I've imagined that these screechers may be juveniles being 'weaned' from
>parental feeding, but can someone on Tweeters confirm this or supply the
>correct explanation? Thanks.
snip

>Tom Besser
>tbesser at vetmed.wsu.edu