Going Owling

[dogg57]

As mating season for a number of New Jersey’s owl species approaches, we’re more likely to hear their haunting calls.
Of the eight species of owls that live or fly through New Jersey at one time or another throughout the year, the barred, screech and great horned are probably the most widespread and easily recognized.
What they are: Barred owls, named for the stripes or bars on their buff-colored undersides, have one of the most easily identified calls of the bird world. The eight-part cry – often very loud – sounds a little like “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” The barred is a large owl, with big white facial disks outlined in brown surrounding its dark brown eyes and yellow bill. Bars run horizontally on its upper breast and vertically on its lower breast.
http://manchester-nj.patch.com/articles/going-owling

 

[manumuskin]

cumberland county supposedly has the highest density of great horned owls in the USA.Used to live in Dividing Creek and had a screech owl that lived in a huge silver maple in the back yard in a hole in the trunk seven ft off the ground.Used to sit in the entrance after dark and let out his ghost noise and look right at me when I shined a light on him. Have only seen one barred owl in nj up by red oak grove in broad daylight.landed in a tree and checked me out while I checked him out with binoculars.Heard one in the bear swamp once.They are everywhere in the cypress swamps down south.Camped on the roanoke river platforms and actually called one in to the platform.I never would have fooled myself but I fooled him.

 

[PINEY MIKE]

We heard a nearby Great Horned hootin the other night in Bamber. Seemed a little early, but Id recognize their distinct call anywhere. Didnt hear too many last year, but a lot of them the year before. If you call back, you can usually get them pretty darn close to you.

 

[manumuskin]

I know an island near turkey point that may still have but used to have barn owls on it that you could see in broad daylight.owl pellets full of medder vole skeletons everywhere.rising sea levels are slowly drowning this island,I think the big red maple at the southern edge is dead now.