Short, Cold Days, and Owls...

It was one year ago that I first saw a Barred Owl at Bucktoe. Several decades ago, they were frequent breeders on the preserve, and to see one again filled the dark days of December and January with an excitement superceding all of the season's ordinary holiday cheer. I would find myself going out at dusk to try to catch a glimpse of this dark-eyed visitor. Our paths crossed a dozen times or so, and always fleeting s(he) was, deeper into the woods. Presently a pair of Great Horned Owls call nightly from the preserve, with a response from two juveniles (barely!) in the form of a raspy cry. Bucktoe is loaded with Great Horned Owls at the present with at least six in the vicinity, but more likely eight. I've read that they can prey on Barred Owls and I presume that the relative abundance of the two species on a site could reflect one's dominance. Screech Owls on the other hand seem to be enumerable, and can always be heard responding to its call reproduced vocally or electronically. This I was doing last week, and after a satisfactory period of communication with my kindred spirit, I moved on to another of my brethren. The Saw-whet Owl, which is the smallest owl east of the Rockies, had been seen only once before at Bucktoe. It was April 2007 and we received a call from one of our bird survey volunteers stating that he had located one on the preserve and that we should try to get out and see it. It was tucked up close to the trunk of a tiny, dense spruce tree, just as they are described to be found in their winter range. It stayed for a week or so after that and then it was gone leaving only a white-trunked tree (from defecation) as a reminder. So I return to the conclusion of my evening calling owls. I thought I would try to call a Saw-whet, and after quite a bit of calling and listening, (about twenty minutes) I got a bite! What a thrilling experience to receive a response from this uncommon winter visitor. As shivers were sent up my spine, I called no further and went back to the house to slip into my pajamas and warm bed. I couldn't help but dream of this little friend out in the cold. The natural world is so often experienced by what can be seen, but this eve I found myself content with it's sweet toot, toot, toot...