A Strong Word of Caution Concerning Barred Owl nests !
(and peering into them)
especially at night/dusk/dawn.

I have banded Barred Owls for several years now, and can tell you that
while some individuals may be passive and watch you serenly as you invade
their nest, others (females especially) will have no qualms about taking
out a piece of you. My experience is that about half of the females will
make a run at a human engaged at nest disturbance. I had one female last
year that made five passes at me (and would have nailed me if I had not
been warned by the ground crew and turned in time to twart off the attack)
while I was climbing the wrong nest tree.

So, be warned.

-Jamie



> Hi Tweeters,
> A group of Lake Forest park Birders visited Wallace Swamp Creek park in
> Kenmore
> http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&country=US&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&addtohistory=&cat=&address=19805-73rd+Ave+NE&city=&state=&zipcode=98028<http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&country=US&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&addtohistory=&cat=&address=19805-73rd+Ave+NE&city=&state=&zipcode=98028>
> on Sunday morning. We had a very productive morning. Cooper's Hawk- with
> prey in talon, possibly stashing it for his mate on the nest.
> Pileated Woodpeckers- just as we arrived at the nest sight we heard a call
> and observed the changing of the guard as the female flew out and the male
> took his turn on nest duty.
> Hairy Woodpecker- Baby birds can be heard clamoring to be fed as the
> parents make frequent trips into the cavity with food.
> Northern Flicker- Male's head poked out of nest cavity.
> Brown Creeper- also made frequent trips into his nest hidden behind a
> loose piece of bark.
> We got excellent views into a Barred Owl nest and could see two owlets and
> one parent. I returned in the evening and narrowly missed a shower of owl
> poop as both adults were overhead as I looked into the nest.
> Rufous Hummingbird-Just as I stopped to scan the area where I see a Rufous
> Hummingbird frequently, in he came, flashing his beautiful colors in the
> sunlight. ( the Anna's was not on his favorite perch)
> Bushtits- acted as if they were near their nest but we couldn't find it.
> The first of the spring, Black-headed grosbeak and Warbling Vireo were
> seen (I saw the vireo after the other had left the park).
> other sightings: Robins, Song Sparrow, towhee, Crows, Starlings,
> Violet-green Swallows, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker. BC and
> Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Gold and House finch, Mallards, Canada Geese,
> Osprey (seen later in the day) GBH, Common Yellowthroat, & Wilson's
> Warbler.
> Grand Total for the day 32 species.
> I bird this park several times a week and I average 15-20 species a day so
> this was an exceptional day. And I feared with the gusty winds that we
> wouldn't see much. Oh Me of little faith.
> Linda Phillips
> linda_phillips1252 at msn.com<mailto:linda_phillips1252 at msn.com>
> Kenmore 98028-2616
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