Back on July 4, David Thometz and I saw and listen to an Eastern Screech-Owl at home on Simerly Creek Road. I really enjoyed that sighting because the owl remained in a mimosa tree long enough for me to get a flashlight and get some incredible looks. After that sighting, we often heard a screech-owl calling, especially just after dark (between 9-10 p.m.) on several occasions. I don't think I have heard any so far in August. At home, I can usually count on, depending on the season, hearing 2 or 3 screech-owls if I make an effort to do so. I haven't done much hiking in the woods to see if I can induce a screech-owl to respond to my attempts to imitate its call. I do know that you really don't have to produce a convincing imitation to get a screech-owl to call back. I most often encounter calling screech-owls when I am doing my fall warbler watching, but that's probably because I am out in the woods looking and listening more than at other times. So, at least at home, I haven't detected any notable difference in the presence of screech-owls. Bryan Stevens, Hampton, TN -----Original Message----- From: Larry McDaniel <larrycmcd@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: cfm46@xxxxxxxxxx; BRISTOL BIRDS <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Mon, Aug 10, 2009 5:46 pm Subject: [Bristol-Birds] Re: screech owls I have had a hard time getting screech-owls all year. I had my first absolute zero owl owl prowl at Steele Creek Park a few months ago. I also had a total bust on an owl prowl at Winged Deer Park?not too long ago.?Normally I can go into the woods day or night and call up several. Not anymore. I would like to hear if other birders are having similar experiences. ? Larry McDaniel Johnson City, TN ? > From: cfm46@xxxxxxxxxx > To: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [Bristol-Birds] screech owls > Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:45:39 -0500 > > I second Wallace Coffee's noting of fewer calling screech > owls. I've had several during many summers but this year, > the crop has dried up. I think I've had screech call twice > this summer. I have no clue to changes in the neighborhood > that might cause this. Or, maybe I'm just sleeping to > heavily. But, the nights have been much quieter than in > previous summers. > > Maybe it's just not me, after all. > > Charles Moore > Johnson City > ************************************************* > BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST > NATURE CALENDAR for NE TN / SW VA: > http://www.google.com:80/calendar/embed?src=eHlvbjQyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ > > Be sure and visit the Bristol Bird Club website at: > http://bristolbirdclub.org > > This is a regional birding list sponsored by the > Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications > between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia > and Northeast Tennessee. > -------------------------------------------------- > You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds. > > To unsubscribe, send an email to > bristol-birds-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with > the one word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. > -------------------------------------------------- > Wallace Coffey, Moderator > wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > (423)764-**** > Get free photo software from Windows Live Click here.=