This is a bird that has become less common as actual barns and other
uninhabited structures have also become less common. There was a permanent
resident pair in the old control tower at Mueller a few years ago, but I do not
know if they remain as the undeveloped grounds that would have hosted prey for
them have been increasingly developed. Perhaps the few acres of natural prairie
the developers have left would provide adequate prey, but I don’t know. Would
appreciate any information. A few years ago, I had one in daylight down Onion
Creek from the old iron infrastructure bridge in Richard Moya park. It flew
across the creek. There were kids playing in the woods, so it may have been
flushed by them.
Dan Smith
dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
512-451-2632
http://www.wordsmithofaustin.com ;<http://www.wordsmithofaustin.com/>
"Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so
strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.” Thomas
Jefferson, 1814.
On Mar 27, 2020, at 4:31 PM, <bertf@xxxxxxxxxxx> <bertf@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Simons (1925). American Barn Owl, Tyto alba pratincola.
Rather uncommon permanent resident.
Habitat – In Blackland Prairie Area, churches and steeples in town, old
pigeon lofts and gables of old barns in the farming country, thick trees
along water courses, and burrows in the face of clay and sand bluffs along
the river and larger creeks. In the Limestone Hill Area, caves and cliffs,
boulder-strewn bluffs, and thick timber along canyons.
Local Haunts – Methodist and Catholic church towers in Austin; caves in
bluffs below McKinney Falls on Onion Creek; caves in cliffs along Barton
Creek canyon; thick trees along Shoal Creek. Irregularly, one pair in
tunneled burrow at mouth of Barton Creek, and three or four pairs in similar
burrows at mouth of Walnut Creek, overhanging the water.
General Habits – Seldom seen in the daytime unless aroused from its hiding
place in thick trees along creeks or in pastures, in caves, belfries, or in
nooks or burrows in bluffs. Hunts during the evening and through the night.
During rain in winter, February 15, 1915, one sat in shelter on ground under
tree, backed up against the tree trunk, on slope nearly at top of Mt. Bonnell.
Flight – Considerable flapping, but entirely noiseless.
Breeding – Earliest: April 13, 1904, 6 fresh eggs (Z). Latest: April 16,
1905, 1 slightly incubated egg (B). Eggs during March and April, and perhaps
as early as late January. Incubation usually begins with laying of first egg.
Voice – An unearthly, rasping, witchy, quavering scream or screech,
karr-r-r-r-ick or kr-r-r-r-r-ik. A feeble, querulous quack-quack. An
unpleasant, escaping-steam hissing. Popping or clicking of mandible when
disturbed.
Popular names – Monkey-faced Owl; Monkey Owl; Church Owl; Steeple Owl; Golden
Owl.
Bert Frenz
Oaks & Prairies of Texas
eBird reviewer, Central Prairie of Texas
eBird reviewer, Belize
NAB subregional editor, Central Oaks & Prairies of Texas
Bert2@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Bert2@xxxxxxxxxxx>
www.bafrenz.com <http://www.bafrenz.com/>
<>
From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Brush Freeman
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 4:03 PM
To: justin.bosler@xxxxxxxxx
Cc: 4 Texbirds Maillist
Subject: [texbirds] Re: Barn Owls in Travis County (Local Interest Only)
I hear them in the dead of winter roughly in the Blockhouse Creek area of
Williamson Co. if I go outside late enough at night. No idea where they
roost here. I used to hear them at the Utley place as well around the same
time frame, Dec-Feb again if I went outside late enough in the
evenings...Usually after 9 PM. Simmons 1925, has some interesting historical
insights into the species for the area in his "Birds of the Austin Region"
but I don't have that text before me so I can't quote it and don't wish to
trust memory. Agree it is scarcer now, or at least incredibly over-looked.
On Fri, Mar 27, 2020 at 3:28 PM Justin Bosler <justin.bosler@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:justin.bosler@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Texbirds,
Generally a pretty scarce bird in the county (especially on the Balcones
Escarpment), on three consecutive nights, 23-25 March, a Barn Owl was
detected somewhere in Travis County. All three were nocturnal detections. I
was ecstatic to get a brief aural detection (classic harsh scream) over my
apartment complex on Southwest Parkway just before 9:00 PM on 25 March. Only
one brief vocalization is all I got from this high flyover in direct flight.
I haven't examined historical eBird observations or reviewed the literature,
but this small spike in detections may indicate a pulse of N-bound migrants
in mid-to late March. Is anyone aware of whether this species persists as a
breeder in Travis County? I know the Mueller Tower birds abandoned that site
years ago, and they haven't been detected there since.
Good birding, even if it's confined to your own yard!
Justin Bosler
Austin, Texas
--
Brush Freeman
Utley & Cedar Park, Texas
