Subject: Great Gray Owl hoots
Date: Mar 8 21:40:48 1997
From: Tom Besser - tbesser at vetmed.wsu.edu
The recent postings about the locations and movements of the Great Gray
Owls were interesting to me because of how they differed from few
sightings that I've made in the western US. I've found them twice, in
groups of several owls both times, in March and April in the highest tall
trees below timberline in Washington (Mt. St. Helens) and California
(Yosemite NP), by astoundingly deep and resonant mid-day hooting. I
wouldn't say the hoots were particularly loud, but they certainly carried
well (hundreds of yards). Both of the groups were at the tops of very tall
trees, and could be spotted (after locating their trees by ear) by the
flagging of their tail as they called. I assume this may be breeding
season behaviour?
Tom Besser
WA Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab
tbesser at vetmed.wsu.edu