Texbirds, Bert, Brush and Dan;
Many thanks for the historical information and perspective. A lot has
changed since Simons account in 1925. Who else is ready for a 2nd Texas
Breeding Bird Atlas? It is recommended that they are repeated at 20-year
intervals and it's been 30 years since the first. I am ready to get to work
on it should the support and funding become available.
Good birding!
Justin Bosler
Austin, Texas
On Fri, Mar 27, 2020 at 4:31 PM <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
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>
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
