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Owling at Deerfield Park

February 25th

We will meet at Cheatham Hall, Tuesday evening around 6pm. We will leave Cheatham at approximately 6:15. We could potentially hear or see 3 species of owls, Barred Owl (vocalization), Great Horned Owl [vocalization] or Screech-Owl [vocalization].

Remember to dress appropriately. We will probably return to Cheatham before 9pm.

Directions: You can either get on Rt 460 from Price's Fork road, and head west toward Newport or Get on Tom's Creek and head away from town toward Rt 460. When you reach the intersection (traffic light) of Tom's Creek and Rt 460, you will take Tom's Creek away from town (toward brush mountain). Deerfied Park is approximately 3/4 mile on the right hand side. You can park at the beginning of the paved trail. Head down the paved trail on foot and see a nice variety of birds.

Owling: by Jerry Via

Late December, January and February are the courting season for the owls and a good time for “owling.” Unlike many birds, owl are very early breeders and often have eggs by the end of February. It is during the breeding season when you are most likely to hear owls calling. Contrary to popular belief, owls are not active only in the dead of night, but rather are most active during the dusk and dawn hours. Your best success at hearing owls is in the early hours of night and just before dawn.

Below is a listing of the common local owls and some tips on finding and hearing them.

To enhance your success of hearing owls;

1) Locate owls roosts during daytime hours by looking for a dense stand of conifers, and then looking for pellets (regurgitated fur and bones) and patches of white wash (droppings).

2) Listen for owls on still nights. Even a small amount  of wind will greatly decrease your chances of hearing owls (especially in conifer stands).

3) When calling owls, keep talking and other noises to a minimum. Excessive movements by the caller will also deter owls. Since owls have silent flight, owls will frequently alight unnoticed just over the caller to investigate this intruder.

4) Remember, don’t become dismayed if you don’t see or hear any owls. Chances are very good you were heard and watched by an unseen skeptical audience.

Screech Owl (Otus asio)

 The most common and ubiquitous of our owls. This species is found in a wide variety of habitats from woodlands to residential areas. The bird responds quickly to a tape or whistled calls. Two types of calls: a descending trill and a monotone trill. The descending trill is the most “hostile” call. If an owl responds to your whistle use only the monotone trill to bring the owl closer.

 This species roosts in tree cavities and old large woodpecker holes. If you suspect a roosting owl during the daytime. Give a descending trill. Sometimes an owl will answer from within the cavity or small passerines will come to the roost tree and “mob” the cavity.

Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)

 This species is the second most common owl in our area and probably the single most dangerous local bird. Because it ranges over the large area, it is a fairly difficult owl to locate. The bird gives a series of low deep hoots which carry about 1-1.5 miles. With this species, males typically hoot 4-5 times (hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo) and females hoot 7-8 times (hoo, hoo-hoo-hoo-,, hoo,, hoo).

After playing or making the call, you should wait for several minutes for a response. No owl likes an over talkative intruder. If you are trying to call in a variety of owls, for best results, save the calling of the Great horned owl until last. Because great horned owls eat other species of owls, it is unlikely that smaller owls will come into an area where there are calling great horned owls (real or recorded).

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

 This owl is typically confined to wooded swamps, river bottoms and lake shores. It is the third most common owl in our area, and a very common owl along the coastal plain. It calls at dusk, dawn, throughout the night and during diurnal hours on overcast days. It has a loud call which carries several miles. Listen carefully, since at a distance Barred owls soundl like a barking dog. They call is typically an 8 noted call (hoo-hoo- hahoo, hoo-hoo-hahoowahhhh). It is reportedly said to say “who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” For best results in calling in Barred owls, go to the appropriate habitat, play the call and wait 15 or 20 minutes for a response. Barred owls are not choosy and will answer the most crude imitations. They will usually call all night.

 Barred owls have a very diverse repetoire and make strange sounds. If you hear owl sound which you do not recognize, they are most likely the calls of a Barred owl.

Barn owl (Tyto alba)

 This is a fairly common owl in our area. They typically nest and roost in abandoned buildings and cavities of large snags. These birds do not really respond to taped calls. Nesting and roosting Barn owls should not be disturbed. The call of the Barn owl is a harsh hissing scream, but when flying they often make a softer hissing “shhhhttt” call.

RARER OWLS IN OUR AREA

Saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus)

 It is a tiny, confiding owl, which is typically found in Appalachian Spruce-fir forests at higher elevations. The call is a series of screeching pulsed whistles (like a saw being filed). It sounds a lot like the noise a large truck makes backing up. This species is fairly cooperative in answering a taped call, but due to low population levels in our area, this is a difficult species to located and hear.

Long-eared owl (Asio otus)

 An uncommon resident of the Southern Appalachians. It is most frequently found in dense pine or cedar stands, where they may roost in family groups. The call is either a long low moan (reminiscent of a horror movie and a ghost rising from the grave) or a low barking (like a small dog).  Their response to recorded sounds in unknown to me.

Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)

 These are uncommon owls in our area, but when they are located, they are most often seen in broad, un-mowed fields (i.e. airports, marshes, etc). They are more typically found in the broad marshes of Eastern Virginia in the winter months. They also are a diurnal bird that can be seen flying or hovering over the marshes during daylight hours. Their call is reminiscent of the barking of a small dog. In our area, they are most likely to call in the early morning hours rather than early night, and they are unlikely to respond to taped calls.

Cautions while owling

1) Do not harass individual owls by repeated playing of a taped call as it will only disrupt their breeding. After all, these calls are used to establish territorial boundaries and to strengthen the pair bond between a breeding pair.

2) Do not play recorded owl calls at full volume. Taped calls should be played only slightly louder than your normal speaking voice. Owls have a very keen sense of hearing and will investigate and answer the calls of other owls. Excessively loud calls will not encourage a reply, but will rather frighten a potential respondent. Owls are capable of accurately detecting the distance of a calling owl. When taped calls are played loudly, distant owls will recognize that the calling birds are too distant and will not respond (even if they do answer you will be unlikely to hear it). Owls close to the played call will not respond because the call is too loud. What owl in their right mind would answer the hostile call of a “very loud and large” intruder? Repeated playing of very loud calls may result in an owl abandoning its territory.

3) Be very careful when in the breeding territory of an owl at night. Owls are fiercely protective of their nests, if you should find and owl nest do not approach it. Because of their ferocity, silent unnoticed flight, sharp talons and strong feet, a perturbed owl (especially a Great horned owl) is a dangerous bird. When attacking a threatening predator, owls go for the eyes. There are several reports of Great horned owls snatching the stocking cap off of an unwary birdwatcher.

4) Be prepared to explain who you are and what you are doing to a law enforcement official or game warden, because it is bound to happen.

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