*
As Joel has pointed out there is a growing history of GGOW in these mixed oak
woods. Who ever looked? When on that hill in May I heard hooting Sooty Grouse.
This is probably inside the city limits of Corvallis. The structure of the
habitat may
be the secret--some very open meadow near good cover.
On Jan 12, 2018, at 11:24 AM, Joel Geier wrote:
Dave & All,
Great Gray Owl is not necessarily "very out of place" in this location. This
is the second report in 4 years, as I noted in another message that passed
this one in the wires.
The habitat in this neighborhood is very similar to a couple of locations in
Douglas Co. and Lane Co. where this species has been found during nesting
season (confirmed as nesting in the case of Lane Co.).
The phenomenon of GGOWs nesting in oak-madrone woodlands with mixed conifers
at lower elevations west of the Pacific Crest was documented in northern
California about a decade ago, and since then in several places in Oregon.
I'm sure Harry Fuller will have more information on this topic.
I've suggested to local birders that this should be regarded as a potential
nesting situation, and observations should be conveyed (discretely) to people
who are involved in monitoring oak habitat restoration on the adjoining
county property.
Joel
On Fri, 2018-01-12 at 19:08 +0000, David Irons wrote:
Unless there is some other mystery bird in Corvallis, the bird in question
was a very out of place Great Gay Owl. I learned of it via Facebook postings.
Had the bird been a Pine Warbler I suspect its presence would have been more
widely broadcast.
Dave Irons
--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis
