Subject: Northern Hawk Owl
Date: Feb 7 03:50:21 1997
From: MarkJHoust at aol.com - MarkJHoust at aol.com


Thought I'd drop a line for those contemplating a weekend trip. The Hawk Owl
was seen in Cheney on the EWU campus yesterday (Wed.), as it was other days
through the week. I didn't hear about today's sightings, if any. The
intersection of Washington (N-S) and Elm (E-W) is a good point of reference.
One of the large silo dorms is there, and the football field is immediately
to the west. The owl has been seen all directions from this point within
half a mile and usually much closer.

I think the bird is best found through a combination of driving and walking.
Drive whatever street and parking lot in the area you can, scanning natural
and man-made perches. The area north of Elm near the various water towers
and tanks is a good place to look, but it can be most anywhere. On foot you
need to look all around the Science Building and the PUB, just se of Wash. &
Elm. The owl has often been seen in a tree in this area, and it may not be
particularly noticeable for a Hawk Owl. It seems to be fond of perching in
the middle of a deciduous tree. In the middle of the day it may or may not
be very active. Look for birders! Your chances of finding and enjoying
this special bird are very good.

It is now clear that the owl has been around for some time. On Jan. 15 or
thereabouts Mike Ruhl from Turnbull Refuge south of Cheney was called to look
at the bird. A campus librarian had it in a cardboard box, assuming that it
had collided with a window. Within hours after Mike took the bird it had
revived to the point where he decided to release it, and it flew away with no
noticeable problems. Also, in December a Hawk Owl was seen at the Upper
Columbia Academy campus just south of Spangle, but could not be relocated.
This is about fifteen miles east of Cheney. In late December a biologist
from EWU had a Hawk Owl in his backyard, about a third of the way from
Turnbull to Spangle. Same bird?

The roads and the weather here continue to be good--10 to 30 degrees F and
sunny!
Good luck.

Mark Houston
Spokane, WA