Subject: [Tweeters] A barred owl just does not take the hint
Date: May 11 21:25:00 2008
From: Rob Sandelin - floriferous at msn.com


While setting up Sherman mouse traps this evening a Stellars Jay was making
a ruckus so I wandered over and found a Barred owl in a Willow being dove
upon and constantly yelled at by a Stellars Jay. The Jay was actually
hitting the owl in the back of the head. The owl stayed put and I watched
it for 23 minutes visibly recoil from 17 smacks in the back of the head by
the diving Jay, and numerous other non-contact dives. I wandered off to
setup the rest of my trap set and the jay continually called over the next
20 minutes. I walked back to the same place and the owl and Jay were still
there, and the owl now visibly tracking the jay which was hopping from
branch to branch. Over the next several minutes the owl stretched out its
wings and did a bit of preening, and each time it stopped watching the jay,
the jay dove at it from behind. I was impressed at much abuse the owl was
willing to take. I noticed after awhile there were two crows, perched not
too far away, watching the whole scene. I found this puzzling and wondered
if the crows were simply waiting their turn, or perhaps keeping an eye on
the owl and letting the Jay do the hard work. As I left I hoped the owl
would not eat up all the mice in the meadow so my traps would have some
success for tomorrows class.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer
Snohomish County, WA