Pair of owls

14 years ago

They have been hanging around for a week now, I can hear one this morning in a cedar tree. They are very cool and I am really happy to have them around, but does anyone know what they noise they are making means? it's kind of an indrawn screech.

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Comments (11)

beegood_gw
14 years ago
Are they still young and maybe calling for their parents to come and feed them? Great picture. Wud love to see one. Don't have them out here.
harveyhorses
Original Author
14 years ago
They seem to be feeding themselves quite well, or so it seems. Saw one go into a dive last night, and didn't fly right back up again, so I think it got something. They look kind of large to be that young. about 18-24 from top to talon. We have a ton of them around here and I here them in the woods who-whoing, and these guys just ruffle their feathers and sit there. Lookin' all cool and stuff.
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It IS a bit hard to tell since I can't see their heads or breasts clearly, but we only have 2 large brown owls in Florida: the great-horned owl and the barred owl. Barred owls do not have the "ear" tufts, so their head is round. Great horned owls, do, so they look like the "typical" picture of an owl, with two "ears" sticking up. Both owls are quite large, and barred owls are often seen during the day, where great-horned owls are mostly seen at dusk or at night. I have a feeling these are more likely barred owls, but again, it is hard to tell. Keep an eye out for them in the next few days. If you have barred owls on your property, especially during mating season, you will hear them calling, day or night. They sound like they are saying "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for YOU-aaall?" Here are some pics for you. Barred Owl: Great Horned Owl: Hope this helps! Marcia
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That is so neat to have a pair of owls make your front yard their home! I know that we have a pair of barred owls in my neighborhood, I think they live in the woods behind my house. It is so wild to listen to them at night when they really get vocal. They sound like a pair of demented monkeys when they are calling back and forth to each other! So far I haven't actually seen the owls although my neighbors have.
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It's so thrilling to read the above post that what I've been hearing (and caught a glimpse of on that one lucky occasion) may be a Great Horned owl!!! It reminds me of my visit to Yellowstone Nat'l Park back in 2001, when I heard the howling of a pack of wolves where it sent chills up my spine. Not only was it chilling hearing them, but to actually witness them in Lamar Valley. I never imagined I'd ever be so lucky hearing the call of the wild in my own backyard, though -- that of a Great Horned owl! Now, everytime I hear the "Hoo-Hoo-Hoo, Hoo-Hoo", I have my eyes peeled in the direction of the sounds. So far, haven't been one of the fortunate to see them roosting in the trees. I would've thought that as large as Great Horned owls are, that they'd be much easier to spot than a Red Tailed hawk.
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Today was the day for 2 baby owlettes to leave the tree nest in my backyard. This is the same tree that has been used by the owls in the years before but what I found to be remarkable was that the owlettes left on 5/9 of last year and that's today's date of this batch of babies leaving as well! Amazing!! This year's story..... I only thought there was one owlette in the nest because I had only seen one little head peeking at me from time to time. When I got home from the grocery earlier today my neighbor ran to my door to tell me that a baby owlette was in their back yard and had been sitting there for quite awhile. They didn't know what to do and quite frankly I was hoping for all that I was worth that it wasn't the owl from my backyard because it was going the wrong way!!! I have acres of woodland behind my house and this little fella was going toward more houses. Wrong way! When I got to the neighbor's house I quickly realized that it was indeed the little owlette from my backyard. I looked for quite awhile but didn't see the parents and they surely would have shown themselves had they known where this little guy was with us being so near him. We decided to move him back towards the nesting tree at the forest edge because I felt it would definitely be a safer place. I got a cardboard box and was able to easily scoop him into it (I got to touch him and he was wonderful!). I got him into my backyard and placed him on the ground. He hopped only a couple of inches away but turned back towards me and just sat. I sat with him for a few minutes and I made some of my mama owl sounds (yeah, right... lol) but for whatever reason he actually was making sounds back with me. Truly wonderful. Still no sight of mom or dad yet. I'm worried. I left him and went to sit on my deck. He came towards my house instead of going towards the woods. He climbed a tree near my deck but fell when he was about 10 feet up. Then he hopped across the yard back towards the woods. Yaaaay! Then I finally saw Dad!!! He came and sat in the tree next to the deck and I'm pretty sure he was gonna make sure I didn't go near the little one again. Later in the day the little one finally climbed a tree and stayed. Mom & Dad were near. Still later in the day I was watching them all and saw movement near the other little one. YES!!!!.... it was a second owlette climbing the nearby tree!!! There were two of them! Yaaay! They both climbed.... and they both fell out of their trees. As it was getting dark I couldn't watch them any longer but I knew they were together as was Mom & Dad. And now.... here's pics of this year's (2008) baby owlettes! What a wonderful day!!! Judy
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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
14 years ago
I have no idea what they're saying, but they're definitely a cool pair of owls. They almost look like they're posing for you (hey, there's a camera down there!)

Thanks for the pic.
Claire
harveyhorses
Original Author
14 years ago
LOL Claire, I was thinking more like, 'if she gets any closer with that thing, we will take her OUT' Very cool to have them around.
Renkosiewicz
14 years ago
Does anyone know what kind of owls they are?
beegood_gw
14 years ago
They are barn owls
harveyhorses
Original Author
14 years ago
Sorry, to correct you, but they are Barred owls, looks and size different than Barn owls. Note the barring on their chests.
Cathy_in_PA
14 years ago
How Wonderful!!!! There used to be a an owl cam (http://www.owlcam.com/) website documenting two Barred Owls (Ward and June) and their nesting adventures. Well written, well documented and just a good read.

There is a sound library associated with that website that allows you to listen to frequent calls.

http://www.owlcam.com/soundlib/sound_lib.htm

Perhaps that will start you on your investigation. Please share your results if you get any -- What an exceptional opportunity for you. Enjoy playing detective!

Cathy in SWPA

PS Was this initially posted on the tomato forum?
harveyhorses
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Cathy Thanks so much for the link.
I've only heard one since yesterday, but I think they are just hiding from the heat. I love playing detective, and I will be happy to share.
A couple of times a year the owls choose our front yard to have a hootanny, Very intense owl get together, A few years ago my sister and I were peering out the door and counted 13 on the ground, could not count the ones in the trees. We have lived in this house for 47 years, and slowly everything around is getting developed. Next time it happens I have video camera at the ready.
Yes, it was originally in the Tomato forum. I didn't know this was here. Finally a place I can share these and not worry about being too OT.
Could you please tell me how I am supposed to get anything done now??
Renkosiewicz
14 years ago
Harveyhorses.....I am curious to know where you are located. What a great thing to be able to look out and see these beauties!
harveyhorses
Original Author
14 years ago
I am just west of Richmond Va. We are on a pond and about a mile from the James, PERFECT for all sorts of wildlife, wanted and un. I love watching them fly, they are almost beyond silent.
And I really do know how lucky I am to see all this and apreciate it.

Pair of owls

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Pair of owls

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