[birdky] Re: dueling owls ... and other notes

I had a little dialog late last week with Frank about his dueling owls. 
Actually, most times you hear Great Horned Owls "dueting" it is the male and 
female of a pair hooting to one another rather than rival birds from adjacent 
territories. I've heard some probable duels on a few occaions over the years, 
but much more frequently you hear the two birds of a pair communicating with 
each other. The female's hooting is deeper and slower than that of her mate. I 
can't recall off the top of my head which usually "goes first" but that may 
vary on the personality of the pair's members :o)
 
In other news ... it appears that most of the Sandhill Crane flight has passed 
over us scarcely noticed. I had an email from the Merrill's in Cumberland 
County last Tuesday right after they had seen 2500-3000 birds pass over their 
farm in about 20 minutes! I figured at least some of these birds would be 
reported by others in the next few days, but there seem to have only been a few 
reports south of the Ohio River.
 
In another email I recently received from KOS member, Mary Elam, who lives in 
Morgan County near West Liberty, she notes that they had a single female 
Evening Grosbeak for a couple of days in early January.
 
I am also following up on a report of two Black-capped Chickadees that were 
reported during the Great Backyard Bird Count last week from the Ashland area.  
There was a decent flight of Black-caps off the Great Lakes in November and 
there should be some in northeast KY.
 
Finally, as of late last week there was one Rufous Hummingbird still lingering 
in Kentucky ... it is the adult male that Mark and I banded near Corbin, Knox 
County, in early November. June Ann Perkins reports that the bird is in molt; I 
suspect it will move on when that molt is completed.
 
bpb, Louisville

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