True confessions of a Northern Saw-whet Owl … as told to me yesterday afternoon at Hartley Park in Duluth, Minnesota.
Yes … I ate that vole. I am truly very sorry.
No I’m not … it was good and tasty!
You gotta a problem with owls eating voles?!
In fact I LOVE voles. Are they on your dinner menu?!
Ummm … my beak and talons???! I just had a manicure … blood red.
I finally saw Dad! He has been hooting his amour for “Lady Love” since last October, but other than a few glimpses when being chased by crows, he has not shown himself to me. Yesterday was different, and 420 photographs later I now present to you Mr. Great Horned Owl. The happy couple expects at least twins by mid March. The female has been on the nest since at least February 10th (nine days ago).
Owls are masters of camouflage. Although I knew the male had to be perched every day within sight of the nest, finding him has been difficult. The happy couple’s home is a forest of towering white pines. All the branches mean sight lines for me towards the heavens are difficult. Even yesterday taking photographs was a challenge. I actually returned to the nesting area five hours apart (the owl had not moved) because I wanted good light. However, the owls ignored me most of the time. Thus, I waited and waited till the combination of some sun broke through the thick pine branches at the same time Mr. Great Horned Owl was willing to look in my direction.
If you would like to learn more about the nesting habits of Great Horned Owls, follow this link from the Cornell School of Ornithology. The female will not leave the nest till after the young hatch. She incubates; he hunts and guards.
Mr. Great Horned Owl (the happy, expectant father)
Mrs. Great Horned Owl (image taken nine days ago)
It was snowing heavily yesterday morning up in Sax-Zim Bog!
While normally one would not expect to see a Barred Owl hunting much after day break, a Great Horned Owl has also been hunting the “same turf” at night in Winterberry Bog. Given GHO’s will happily prey upon their smaller cousins, it has forced this very nocturnal owl to hunt during the day.
Barred Owl (just prior to take-off)
After taking some photographs I headed over to the Welcome Center for my stint as a volunteer. Over the past few days I have met birders who heralded from all over the country. Being a northern Minnesota native it is kind of funny to explain to Texans and Californians that a temperature of 12F is warm. They don’t believe me!
The Barred Owl’s final perch … I was just another obstacle / tree to avoid! It actually landed thirty yards away, but just above my friend’s Mark M.’s head! To say we were both dumbfounded as the bird flew directly towards us is a HUGE understatement.
The view (albeit quite blurry) as an owl approached my head. Given the heavy snow in progress and thus lack of light, I was definitely not able to have a short enough shutter speed to capture the experience, but it gives everyone the idea. The owl was “eye to eye” with me at this point, and only about 12 feet away. I remained very still as it flew past me … only feet from my head!!!