Don't do that, Jane. As for the pellet----urm, call Chris Packham, he has an unusually deep interest in them.
Obsess away Jane and I'll obsess along with you. I wish I could be there to dissect the pellet as I love seeing what an owl has eaten. The last one I took apart had parts of mice, voles and shrews in it along with some beetle carapaces. It was a Tawny owl pellet and totally fascinating.
Early this morning the owl stopped by to say "goodbye" and flew away. My husband heard an owl call and thought it was pretty close to the house. He spotted the owl in the gum bumelia tree outside the kitchen, saw it fly to the ashe juniper, call again, and then fly off over the shed and eastward. We heard a few more calls, getting farther and farther away. I must admit we are going to miss that owl, but were so happy to see it fly as it should.
I didn't know they migrated, Jane. With any sort of luck the owls are only changing territory for a while. Perhaps they will return at some point. Good luck..
Sjoerd, I don't think owls migrate, at least not Great Horned Owls. I looked him up in our bird books, and owls change hunting territory, but don't migrate. He may be back, and if so, I'll let y'all know . We have wooded areas along Sandy Creek to the east of us, and I think he moved there for easier and tastier pickings. An owl gets so tired of field mice . . . .
Venus, your wish came true--the owl returned the next day. We were going out at dusk to bring in the chickens, and there he was, in his favorite tree. Here's another photo of him: Don't you just love those talons?
Yes, oh yes!! I love everything about owls from the top of the 'ears' to the very sharp ends of those magnificent talons. What a fabulous photograph.
Wow! Such a great photo op! These Owls are so cool!. When we lived in northern Colorado, we had a pair that lived in a big tree behind our shed. My little kids loved to be taken back there to see them.
Owls are territorial and as long as there is food will stay in the same general area. Of course the general area can be a few miles wide. Early winter is when the youngsters leave the mother and begin hunting on their own. Mothers do watch the youngsters a while. This winter has been warm so maybe they are later than usual.
I am just catching up on the Owl adventure. Jane those are some great photo's. Our Great Horned Owls are just starting to nest. It is so fun to listen to them after it gets dark. Jane have you heard any strange cries when the young Owl sitting in the tree. They beg for food and make a Jay like sound. Not Owl sounding at all. There is a good video on YouTube of one making those sounds. I too, love Owls. But they can be hard on chickens if they can get at them.
