Timiskaming Birds Forum

Greetings all. My wife and I heard a Barred Owl calling from near the north end of Henwood Road 3 at about 3:45 this afternoon. (We also saw a pair of Ruffed Grouse feeding on young deciduous buds.)

Barred Owl heard calling again tonight. Hasn't been calling consistently.  This is only about the fourth time we've heard it since I first reported it on March 2.

I love snow days!  Unfortunately, the birds at my feeder have a hard time finding the seed under the snow.  I cleared the platform off this morning, and put out some black oil sunflower as per usual, but within minutes it had disappeared from sight.  The nyjer was visited by Common Redpolls, who are becoming fewer and fewer, it seems, with less Hoarys amongst them.  About 09:45, though, I looked out and noted unusually high numbers of chickadees (unlike my neighbour, Serge, I only get Black-caps).  Looking into the apple tree where they usually sit while eating,  I saw a first for me.... a Barred Owl was watching them, too!  I ran for my brand-new birthday present camera...  The battery was exhausted!!! (Especially frustrating, as I haven't used it!)  I ran back to grab my younger son's video camera...  was just trying to focus in when he said "There it goes!"  So here I sit, frustrated and angry, but at the same time, thrilled to have an addition to my life list from out my back door, and probably even happier that Tom won't have to wait 'til he's 51 to add it to his!

Fantastic sighting Mark!  I don't very often actually see one, especially at this time of year.  I hear them often though.  If I try to hoot back to them when they are just starting to establish territory, I think it scares them off because they interpret me to be another competing owl defending territory.  Once they have settled into nesting, they will hoot back, but don't often come closer.  In the late summer though, I've often had great success calling them in. At that time of year, they seem more inclined to seek out company and will readily come in to a decent imitation call.  That's usually when I actually see one, and sometimes several at a time.  Even then, I usually see them at dusk, in light too poor for photography.  What a treat for you to see one in daylight!