I've owled under better conditions..Overcast but moonlight sky, 46 degrees,
a steady barometer, slight wind from the SW, and a steady light drizzle
greeted my owlers when they arrived at my banding station at 3 AM. I had
been there for an hour and a half prior, setting up, and hadn't heard an
owl.

However, the first stop after we packed my nets away produced a NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWL that initially gave only two very quiet chirps before allowing
me to locate it with night vision. The group then was able to see this
small owl for an extended viewing as it was buried deep in a cedar tree.
Two stops later, the resident female BARRED OWL provided a good viewing and
photo op. Try as I might, none of my Barn Owl locations produced a Barn Owl
all night. We had one more stop with a Northern Saw-whet whose response was
two quick chirps from the top of a very tall fir tree, and a lengthy look at
another photogenic BARRED OWL that was fascinated with a pack of coyotes
that were barking in the field nearby. Our last stop with an owl produced a
GREAT HORNED OWL that responded and gave us a head shot view as it called
from the top of a rather tall tree in a small field.



Total for the night: NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL-2, BARRED OWL -2, GREAT HORNED
OWL-1



J. Acker

Bainbridge Island, WA

<mailto:Owler at sounddsl.com> Owler at sounddsl.com



A voice unspoken (or unwritten) is a voice unheard.

Be heard!