Okay, what does Canada’s new nation bird, the Gray Jay, have against Northern Hawk Owls? Apparently, a lot. To make it worse, given our present political climate, these dastardly jays, sometimes called the Canada Jay, flew down south 60 miles in the United States and carried out their attack in northern Minnesota near Upper Red Lake. Perhaps we need a very tall wall to keep the Gray Jays above our northern borders?!

Seriously, I had great fun today as I watched not 1, 2, or even 3, but 4 Northern Hawk Owls. Three of four birds had a pretty good day hunting peat bogs for tasty moles, but #3 had a rough time. In between attacks from nasty Common Redpolls, a pair of Gray Jays got in on the action. You may also wish to see yesterday’s post when I watched two Northern Hawk Owls for a combined total of over five hours … great sun, pics and video. While the light was not as good today, the experience of four hawk owls with all the attacks made for a memorable day. Once again, my total contact time with the Hawk Owls exceeded five hours.

Underneath today’s photographs are two videos … a real time video and a version of the Gray Jays attacking the Northern Hawk Owl, but slowed down by a factor of 4.

Canada Jay Attacks & Slide Past!

Slow Motion 4x: Attacking the Northern Hawk Owl

Real Time: Attacking the Northern Hawk Owl

The image in your mind is often much more important than the one captured by your camera. In explanation, please understand that my Dad really liked owls, and he had hundreds of owl statues around the house. Yesterday I went owling thinking of my Dad who had died exactly two years ago.

Shortly after sunrise on a remote road in northern Minnesota, in the Big Bog near Upper Red Lake, I found a Northern Hawk Owl. The morning was crisp, clear and cool (10F). As the sun began to rise, I watched the owl start to hunt. In fact, for the next 3 hours I watched this owl make kills in a field overlooked by its three favorite perches. I never stressed out the bird, and it did not mind my presence. Often I watched the Northern Hawk Owl from a distance of only 20 yards as it scanned the peat bog for voles.

On one particular strike it flew 300 yards away dropping down into the tall grasses where it could not be seen. Suddenly my owl reappeared flying straight back towards me. Amazed, I watched as the owl bore in on me flying only 8 feet high. Without swerving my Northern Hawk Owl passed only two feet over my head and returned to its favorite perch behind me. Wow! Thanks Dad. The image of this bird is now captured in my brain in a manner no photograph could ever replicate.

Having written this narrative, here are some photographic images of what I will now always think of as Dad’s owl … one of the rarest owls in the United States. Yup, it was a great day which even ended with a second Northern Hawk Owl shortly before sunset in the Lost River States Forest. Dad and a few owls were with me yesterday.

My Northern Hawk Owl Checking Me Out!

Morning Fluff Feathers

A Short Video of my Northern Hawk Owl