Under a spectacular sky, I led a group of owlers off the 0210 ferry from
Seattle. Conditions last night could not have been better. Temperatures
ranged from the upper to lower 30s throughout the night. The barometer was
high and steady, with mostly clear skies and very little wind. Sound
carried very well. The group met me at Islandwood, where we were permitted
access to my Northern Saw-whet Owl banding station.



Prior to meeting up with the group, I had a Great Horned Owl at the West
Sound Wildlife Sanctuary that was responding to Orion, the educational Great
Horned Owl kept there. I was hoping that the group would be able to hear
them duet later in the morning when we got to the north end of the Island.



As we walked into Islandwood, Gus, the resident male Barred Owl, was
calling. As we approached the banding station, Gus started caterwauling
with an unseen female bird. On a net run made just prior to the group's
arrival, there were two Northern Saw-whets in the nets. Both birds were
birds that had previously banded in October, but had not been caught since.
Always a mystery to me - did they hang around since then, undetected, or had
they continued south and were now on the return trip back north to parts
unknown? Gus also put in his usual appearance, and treated the group to a
photo shoot.



After closing up the nets and leaving Islandwood, our first stop was near
Restoration Point, in the Seattle CBC circle, where the group was serenaded
by a tooting male Northern Saw-whet Owl that made several flybys before
calling unseen from dense underbrush fifteen feet from the road. His
presumed mate responded with several chirps and calls from up the hill.



The next stop at my other banding station had a Barred Owl fly over in
response to my Northern Saw-whet calls. The group got a good look at this
owl before moving on.



Two Northern Saw-whets at the next stop entertained the group for a while
with a variety of calls, chirps, toots, and flyovers. However, the birds
stayed buried in heavy cedar growth and refused to show themselves. A
Barred Owl called distantly twice from the east.



On the backside of Islandwood, a male Northern Saw-whet Owl readily
responded to my calls. Initially, this bird remained high in a cedar, and
provided a very brief look to a few owlers. It relocated several times, but
remained elusive to viewing, however vocal.



The last three stops were a vain attempt to catch a late night Barn Owl, or
hear a Great Horned Owl. On the return trip, a Barred Owl flew across the
road in front of me and was seen by several other owlers.



In all, the group detected 4 BARRED OWLs and 7 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLs.



Hope the weather is as nice next weekend..





J. Acker

owler at sounddsl.com

Bainbridge Island, WA