Rain Birds

Year 11

The back country is wet, which does not encourage one to go off trail. Twice in the past three days I have visited Sax-Zim Bog and the water next to the dirt roads is amazingly deep. The reason for my visits is we are now entering the time period when both Great Gray Owls and Barred Owls have their owlets hatch, which means both species often hunt well after sunrise. While I have not seen any Great Grays (bummer) I have found the same exact Barred Owl twice. At this point I do not know if it is a younger owl that did not mate this year, or whether a nest is in the vicinity. Regardless here are a few pics from Sunday morning when the yellow globe came out briefly.

Barred Owl at Sax-Zim Bog

In the sun …

The clouds returned …

Who Cooks for You (the video … link for email subscribers)

I also watched this Chestnut-Sided Warbler (and a whole bunch others) near my home

Here is a timeline for Great Gray Owls which I put together. It assumes a nesting date of May 1st (adjust earlier or later based upon your own sightings). Shortly after hatching the views of Poppa GGO with the need to hunt increase.

Nesting Date: May 1

  • Incubation Time: 30 days (End on June 1st)
  • Time in Nest: 28 days (End on June 28th)
  • Exploring on Ground or Snags near nest: 7 to 14 days (End on July 4th to 11th)
  • Flight (Start July 4th to 11th … mid July)
  • Independent by late Summer

Greenwood Creek Boreal Bog

Year 11

I have made a number of changes …

  • The birdfeeders are now a “public place” on Google Maps (just off Lake Cty. 2 south of Greenwood Lake). Assuming I am able to convince Google that I am the owner of said feeders, I will add updates for the public page.
  • I pointed a trailcam at the feeders for about two days. Two videos are given below.  This morning I shifted the trailcam about one mile to the actual  bog area where I have seen Lynx and Moose tracks.
  • If you wish to drive closer to the Bog, I removed a huge tree which was blocking US Forest Road #813. Assuming you have an all wheel or 4 Wheel Drive vehicle, drive very slowly for 6/10 of a mile. Park at the rock pile. Do NOT drive beyond this point as the road gets bad fast with wet spots that even a 4-Wheel drive vehicle might not like. From the parking spot the bog is only a few hundred yards (a one mile hike from the bird feeders next to Lake County #2)
  • If you need a bathroom, there is a US Forest Service Outhouse in very good condition at the White Pine Picnic Area (normally also very clean), which is 5.5 miles south of the bird feeders via Lake County #2.

Canada Jay seen and photographed a few days ago on Stony River Forest Road, which is near the Greenwood Creek Bog.

Greenwood Creek Boreal Bog Bird Feeder TrailCam Videos (video one and two links for email subscribers)

Owlet Update: Days 39 to 43

Year 11

The Great Horned Owlets (and their parents) have now moved quite a distance from the nest. I have to search hard to find the owl family, and I am not always successful. The youngsters have become proficient flyers, and with that hunting lessons are now beginning. In fact, early this morning the owl family visited my yard at 4:30 am. I could hear the parents hooting, and the youngsters begging. The lesson of the morning was … hunt bird feeders! Yup, I know from experience that the Great Horned Owl parents, Les and Amy, very much know about my feeders and hunt them frequently! This lesson needed to be taught to the next generation, but ultimately they will have to find their own feeders!

Here are some images taken from Days 39 to 43 of the owlet’s lives bringing us through this past Monday.

Day 39 (20 Minutes after Sunset)

Day 41 (30 minutes before sunset)

Day 42 (Mother’s Day … May 12th! … at sunrise)

Day 43 (Mom guards from below … very unusual)