I promised that I would post another bird diary as soon as I got pics for it, so here it is!
Owls are some of my favourite birds. I love how they always look like they've just been shot with a BB gun, I love the deep booming hoots late at night. My dad and I wanted to attract owls to our house, and Screech Owls seemed the easiest to lure in, so he built an owl house with a camera inside. That way, we could see if they laid eggs, and we could watch the chicks grow up.
This little fellow here is what we were trying to draw in.
From the title of this diary, you've probably guessed that our little idea didn't work as planned. Otherwise this would be a diary about screech owls.
More below the fold :: :: :P
No screech owls ever showed up (Some wood ducks did check out the box, but that's going to be the subject of my next diary). For the longest time, we couldn't figure out why no owls would nest in the box. Dad made owl boxes for several friends, and nearly all had owls within a month. So why not ours?
The answer came late at night with a heavy thud on the roof. Followed by a loud scraping noise. Then came a haunting sound that seemed to vibrate the whole house, a deep booming "hoot, hoo hoo hoo hoot hoot". The sound is unmistakable: Great Horned Owls. By this time I was fully awake (the thud jolted me up just as I was drifting off), and I could hear in the distance a faint reply.
A little info on Great Horned Owls: Scientific name Bubo virginianus, They're the most widespread owl in North America, and they'll kill and eat anything smaller than themselves. Sometimes Great Horneds (sp) will kill animals larger and heavier than themselves. IIRC, there's a YouTube video of a Great Horned attacking a small dog (free Mojo to whoever can find it), and their talons can crush a dog's skull.
In fact, Great Horned Owls will kill and eat Screech Owls. That's why the owl box went empty.
Over the following months, the late-night hooting went from just two owls to a chorus of about six. The strange thing is, I still haven't seen any more of these owls than a shadow on the rooftop. My parents, however, saw them all in the greenbelt next to the house while walking the dog. That's where this picture comes from.
Personally, I'm content just listening to them late at night calling to each other, their deep voices echoing through the Texas night.
Sometimes, all you need to do is stop and listen. You never know what you may hear.
Feel free to share critter (not just bird) stories and pictures below. Suggestions for what I should do with this series are also welcome.
UPDATE X2:Next in the Series are Wood Ducks.
UPDATE X3: Forget the pole, I've just gotten a suggestion that's too good not to use, thanks to Rick Winrod. New name is "The Left Wing". Sorry to all those who voted in the poll.
UPDATE X4: This diary made the Wrecklist, even if it was a short ascent. This is my first time!