Sorry this may be a little late to be helpful this year but might be useful in the future. First, I want to thank Al Clark for his post, included below, where he talked about the Spring Creek Great Gray Owls. Joana and I were planning a trip to points south in May this year, and La Grande seemed like a good stopping point for our first night out. I did reach out to the folks at the La Grande ranger station and they got back to me with information about where an active nest box could be viewed. I also asked about the Spring Creek Campground. They told me it was closed at the time but on the weekend we were to arrive, they were going to be assessing winter damage and would probably open it then.
Score on both points! The campground was indeed open when we arrived and we promptly found a place to set up camp. We then went to the area of the nest box they mentioned. It took a little doing, but eventually found the box with a bird in it! No young were evident (this was on May 9) but the way the parent was maneuvering in the box suggested there were likely babies inside. Pleased to have actually seen a Great Gray, we returned to camp (several miles away from the nest box) and began to prepare dinner.
Just a few moments later, I noticed a large owl flying low to the ground about 50 m beyond our campsite. Grabbing bins and camera, I was able to track down a hunting Great Gray! I got close enough for some documentation photos when it moved to another perch. It did not seem perturbed as I move into a decent location for more photos-;it seemed quite focused on the ground where it must have spotted some prey. In fact, without approaching too closely, I was able to almost fully circumnavigate the owl, getting both photos and videos. As apparent in the video, it continued to look toward the ground but had to deal with a small group of very irritated robins who were constantly harassing it. Ah, the patience of a hunter.
When I left to return to dinner prep, the owl remained, still looking toward the ground and still shaking off the robin attacks.
A few photos can be found here:
https://flic.kr/p/2m5Z7AT <
https://flic.kr/p/2m5Z7AT>
And a video:
https://youtu.be/03s5nDMM468 <
https://youtu.be/03s5nDMM468>
Scott Ramos
Seattle
P.S. Coordinates for the La Grand Ranger folks:
USDA Forest Service
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
La Grande Ranger District
p: 541-962-8506
f: 541-962-8580
3502 Hwy 30
La Grande, OR 97850
>
On Apr 13, 2021, at 7:21 PM, Al n Donna <alndonna at wamail.net> wrote:
>
>
>
When a few years younger, we spent springs in Arizona, driving the RV thru La Grande, OR back home. Hearing Great Grays could be found in the mountains, we drove Spring Creek rd. About the 3rd try, we met a birder who said he was to meet a ranger who would take us to a GG.
>
>
Most helpful of all was the young woman ranger who met us at the beginning of I-84, exit 248, about 40 miles south of Pendleton and 12 miles north of Lagrande, OR. We drove west, road 21 maybe 3 miles (bumpy), turned left on 2155 road, then kept right immediately at a Y to stay on 2155, then right on 50 rd for 1/4 mile, where we parked, then we walked 75 feet to the left, where the owl was. I didn't see a platform.
>
>
The woman said that she accompanied small groups of birders to the bird about twice a week during May. I was there May 25, 2017-she said that we were a little late in the month, but the fledglings were still there on the ground.
>
>
She works at the LaGrande ranger station, phone number in the brochure. I forget her name-common name like Debbie or Michelle or something. She was most helpful.
>
>
If you are serious about going there, I'd phone them early May, hopefully able to talk to her. Check this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5287707 <https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5287707>
>
>
If you are serious about going there, I'd phone them early May, hopefully able to talk to her.
>
>
Some of this may be out of date. I saw the GG on 5-25-2017
>
>
My photo is at: https://pbase.com/alndonna/image/165528088 <https://pbase.com/alndonna/image/165528088>
>
Al in Tacoma
>
>
From: Steven Dammer <mailto:dammerecologist1990 at gmail.com>
>
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 4:40 PM
>
To: Dan Reiff <mailto:dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com>
>
Cc: Tweeters <mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Two Requests for information regarding Oregon GreatGray owl locations
>
>
Ooo please CC me on this with responses! Would be very interested in locating a GGOW
>
>
On Tue, Apr 13, 2021, 15:58 Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com <mailto:dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
Hello Tweeters,
>
To requests:
>
1. I would appreciate it if you would send me any information regarding Great Gray owl locations in northeast Oregon or Southeast Washington.
>
>
2. A few months ago someone posted an Oregon Bird conference that included a talk by a biologist who specializes in the Great Gray owls in Northeast Oregon. I am unable to find that Tweeters posting at this time.
>
I would very much appreciate if someone could send me that information or Tweeters posting.
>
Thank you,
>
Dan Reiff
>
MI
>
>
Sent from my iPhone
>
_______________________________________________
>
Tweeters mailing list
>
Tweeters at u.washington.edu <mailto:Tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters>
>
>
>
Al in Tacoma
>
>
_______________________________________________
>
Tweeters mailing list
>
Tweeters at u.washington.edu <mailto:Tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20210616/9a6a82f3/attachment.html>