[bcbirdclub] Re: Northern Saw-whet Owl
- From: "Don Carrier" <donc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bcbirdclub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:19:45 -0400
David,
That's great news. I never knew Saw-whets were in Buchanan County. I thought
the only location in the this area was Roan mountain. The Breaks area seems
to surprise us every day! You are blessed to live in that area!
_____
From: bcbirdclub-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bcbirdclub-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David & Susan Raines
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 11:04 PM
To: bcbirdclub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bcbirdclub] Northern Saw-whet Owl
Hey All
I was out in the backyard after dark and heard a very strange ( to me) call.
It was raspy or wheezy and tremulous. I thought at first it might be a
juvenile Barn Owl or something. I ran inside and got a flashlight and
quietly approached the Wild Cherry Tree the call seemed to be coming
from.When I got close I could tell there was more than one bird making the
calls. As they began moving through the branches I could get glimpses of
them and knew they were small owls. Two of them flew to an open area where I
got a good look at two cute little Saw-whet Owls! They moved on into my
small orchard of apple & cherry trees where I got glimpses of at least 3
birds maybe more. One of them began repeating the typical repeated toots
that I am familiar with. I immitated that call and had one of the Owls fly
to the tree right over my head. Unfortunately, our big house cat came
running to the tree and flushed the owl into another tree close by. I
grabbed the cat and took him in the house, but when I returned the owls had
moved further away. One of them kept repeating the low toots but would never
come to me again. The only record I have for a Saw-whet in Buchanan County
was a lone bird sighted in late fall around 20 years ago. If anyone has any
records or info concerning this species, please share. I suppose this is an
example of post-breeding dispersal ?
Dave Raines
Breaks,VA
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