[obol] Re: Boreal Owls
- From: "Tim Janzen" <tjanzen@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'OBOL'" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2015 23:14:29 -0700
Dear Brandon and others,
I think that people should keep in mind that Boreal Owls aren't necessarily
always found at excessively high levels. About 15 years ago in April Dan van
den Broek, Elmer Specht, and I heard a Boreal Owl doing its primary song in
Clackamas County along Ghost Creek in the Salmon River Meadows area.. The
elevation in this area is only about 3200 feet or so. That area has a lot of
Engelmann Spruce trees in it. We tried again in the same area about two weeks
later, but weren't successful the second time in hearing any. I don't know
how common this species is in the Mt. Hood area, but they might be more common
in that area than has been known previously.
Sincerely,
Tim Janzen
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Brandon Wagner
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2015 10:44 PM
To: oregon birding online
Subject: [obol] Boreal Owls
Hi friends,
I'm very intrigued by the Boreal Owl thread, but I don't know much about their
habits/habitat preferences. Can any of you fill me in? It sounds like they
like high elevation. Is higher better, or is there some range of elevation
they prefer? What type of trees or vegetation do they prefer? Anything else
that would be useful in distinguishing an area that might hold such owls?
Paul, thanks for the list of places these owls have been found before, that is
fun to think about.
I wish I had become a birder earlier in life. I was a mountain climber first,
and I have spent many nights up at very high elevations, even in the winter. I
have stayed in snow caves or snow camping high up on Thielson, South Sister,
and Mt. Mcloughlin. And I have snow-shoed up to and stayed for several nights
at the recently mentioned Hager Mountain (which has a nice lookout). Of course
I didn't even consider listening for owls in any of these locations. Though of
course after reading Paul Sullivan's efforts, I would have had to be extremely
lucky, or spend significantly more time out in the mountains, but it still
would have been fun to try and hear something.
This is a little side tracked, but Strawberry Mountain is still one of my most
favorite places I have ever camped. There is just enough room for two to sleep
at the summit (9000ft). My friend and I slept on a small tarp, and the stars
were simply amazing. Because of the prominence above the surrounding land, it
seemed like the stars could be seen below you in all directions. And the sunset
was incredible as well. Truly a fabulous experience. This was in the summer
though, so probably not relative to Boreal Owls, though Paul's post did make me
reminisce on that experience. It sure would be fun to try and get in there
during the winter. Not sure if that is very possible or not.
If you hold any more info on Boreal Owls, I'd be very entertained to read more.
Thanks,
Brandon Wagner
Independence
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