Owls
In The Park
Observations - 2009, March
Summary
- This month saw great activity at the Southern nest site for the Barred Owls.
- The Northern pair have returned to last year's site.
- The Eastern (potential) nest site is finally showing some promise.
- A rehabilitated Saw-whet Owl was released in the park.
- A Great Horned Owl was seen hunting near Second Beach.
March 2 - activity continues at the Southern site.
This evening I returned to the new nest site with another volunteer/enthusiast - to show her the location. Once again there was lots of activity, with the adults sitting together, calling extensively (see the vocalizations page to hear them - poor quality audio recording).
Both adults visited the cavity (see above at join of trunks) and returned there after the calling. Later one adult left and made a couple of short calls near the location of the bathing two days ago. It was still in that location when we left about 45 minutes after sunset.
March 3 - quiet at the Northern site, more Southern action.
Tonight I visited last year's nest site for the Northern pair. I timed this to match the active time around dusk for the Southern pair. I saw and heard nothing. It is possible that they have also moved home for this year - or were just quiet. In previous years I have observed them to be less vocal than the southerners.
While I was at that site, Monica (another owl enthusiast) was monitoring the new southern site. She observed similar action to that of the previous night - owls calling and both seen flying near the nest tree.
March 4 - first check of Eastern site, all sites quiet.
Tonight I visited the territory of the Eastern pair (close to Beaver Lake). I timed this to match the active time around dusk for the Southern pair. I saw and heard nothing.
While I was at that site, Monica was once again monitoring the new southern site. This time she saw and heard nothing, except one possible "who" call just as she was leaving.
Today's weather was cloudy and there were the occasional drops of rain - the other days had been generally clear. It is possible that weather is a factor in their timings of activity.
March 5 - Southern site activity continues.
Tonight I planned to visit the site of the Southern pairs nests from last year. I passed through the new territory on my way and was treated to a full vocal exchange between the pair. One adult on the trail near me and the other one somewhere to the south.
I then spent some time at the old site - no activity there. I had to leave early to attend a Nature Vancouver presentation by Paul Bannick of his new book "The Owl and The Woodpecker" - an excellent book and presentation (see references page).
March 6 - Southern site moving again?
A somewhat later arrival at the site tonight (I seem to have picked
up a cold). Once again I found an owl sitting in a tree next to the
trail in what has become the usual location. After a while I saw the
other owl flying to the south and this owl flew off to join it. I then
realized that they were at another potential nest site.
This site has two potential cavities and I observed one owl fly in to the lower one (see above) with calling from inside. After a while the other joined it in the cavity. By now light was failing but I did see more activity around this tree with. It seems as though they may still be "house hunting" - in which case I feel that this would be a safer site for them. It is only just visible from trails.
March 7 - Southern site visited.
Tonight I visited the southern site again, but saw no activity at either of the potential nest sites. I did hear one call from the general area. A relatively short visit. I had hoped for more calling as I now have a better (external) microphone for my note taker. The cold continues.
March 11 - Southern site visited.
Tonight was the first night that my cold (virus, or whatever it is) allowed me to get out again. I visited the southern site, briefly, at the usual time around dusk. I did not see any owls but I did find the a pellet with large bones and many crow feathers under one of the owls usual perches. While I was retrieving the pellet I head one owl call nearby and response from another - this made a rough triangle formed by the two possible nest sites and the more distant owl.
March 12 - Southern site visited - some hunting.
I arrived at the site about an hour before sunset and found no
activity. Around sunset I finally located one owl to the west, further
up Tatlow trail in the direction of last year's site. I watched it for
about forty minutes as it watched passers by (mostly they were unaware
of the owl, as usual). As the light failed it became more
interested in squirrels, but made no move. Then it made a quick dive
into the bushes at trail edge, flew up briefly into another tree before
flying northwards across the trail. It was only upon examining the photo
I took in its brief pause did I realize it had caught a thrush.
Just as the owl departed, Monica (another owl fanatic) arrived. It turned out that she had been watching an owl for about two hours at the junction of Bridle and Lake trails just to the north. This was roughly the direction in which "my" owl flew off. Her owl had departed (direction unknown) about five minutes earlier. It is possible that they were mates, or more likely that it was the male from the Northern territory, or even the Eastern. That area has in previous years been well inside the Northern pair's home range.
March 13 - Southern site active, checked Northern (brief).
An owl was once again seen perched in front of the nest tree. After a while it flew into a nearby tree where it remained until well after sunset. Monica also turned up tonight, so I left her watching the southern site and had a brief check of the Lake/Bridle junction and then on past last year's Northern nest tree. I did not see activity in either area and returned to watch the Southern site until light failed.
March 14 - Southern site - daylight hunting.
Being a Saturday and with my cold firmly in retreat I was able to
visit the site by mid morning - much as I had 2 weeks earlier. After a
week of sunshine the weather had turned cloudy and rain or even snow was
forecast. Fortunately the morning was clear of either. Monica was once
again on site as I arrived. Once again I witnessed an owl (presumably
the male) as it watched squirrels in the clearing near the nest site.
Once again it was mobbed by crows, on occasion. As seen before the owl
occasionally chased one of the crows. After a while things settled down
- until the owl swooped upon a Douglas Squirrel - this time it caught
it.
 |
After further mobbing by crows the owl flew off a short distance (into denser cover).About ten minutes later the crows indicated that the owl was back. It then settled down to roost and showed no more interest in hunting. Curiously it did not take the prey to the nest site for its mate. The following day, another enthusiast saw an owl hunting at the same location, at about the same time - after squirrels again. |
March 16 - Southern site mating activity.
 |
Tonight we first located the female owl in a tree just off the trail to the west of the nest site. She was making regular, soft begging calls (sometimes described as a "mew"). Sometimes watching for prey. After a while (at dusk) she flew across the trail to where (unknown to us) the male had been perched. They remained together for a brief period before the male flew off westward down the trail. Some time later he returned and the both flew off towards the 2nd potential nest site. Stopping somewhat short of that area they then proceeded to mate. It was now quite dark and we were unable to follow where they went from there.
|
March 17 - Stanley Park Owl Survey 2009, Day 1.
Today was the first day of the (2-day) annual survey by the Ecology Society. As for last year they were are able to borrow an owl caller from Triton Environmental Consultants. This year Triton also sent along one of their staff, Leigh. As usual Robyn led the whole adventure.
Three of the nine sites monitored for park recovery were visited. These were established after the storm of 2 years ago. Following standard protocols, the calls of the 3 larger species were played followed by periods of listening. These were: Great Horned, Barred and Western Screech. At the first site Robyn thought she heard a Pygmy Owl, so we added a callout for that species, but received no call-backs.
The 2nd and 3rd sites happened to be either side of the Southern Barred Owl's nesting site, so we had high hopes of them calling back. Only after we completed the callouts and were passing the nest site on our way out were we treated to 2 full calls of "who cooks for you".
No other owls were seen or heard - though I thought I saw something at the 2nd site (during the Barred Owl callout), but it could have been a bat.
March 19 - Stanley Park Owl Survey 2009, Day 2.
Today we visited the same sites as for the first survey day, but this time the playbacks were for the 2 smaller species: Saw-whet and Pygmy. The weather was a bit drizzly at time. No owls responded to us. After the survey was over and we were heading out past the Southern's nest site and played the Barred Owl call - but got no response.
March 21 - Saw-Whet Owl Release.
About 6pm today I got a call from Jerry (another Nature photographer)
- he had just come across members of O.W.L (see References) releasing a
Saw-whet Owl near the wetlands at the edge of Lost Lagoon. It had
(apparently) been rescued in mid-December and was now recovered enough
for release. After the release the owl remained (well hidden) in a
nearby tree. It took me about half-an-hour to get there and join him
watching the (now relaxing) owl. This is the second time in a few years
that Jerry has found a Saw-whet like this and in exactly the same area!
In the first instance the owl got there on its own - i.e. living wild in
the area.
After
Jerry left and Monica arrived I continued watching the owl until light
failed. The owl became more active and suddenly we could no longer see
it.
Returning to the site early the next morning revealed no trace of the
owl (unsurprisingly).
Finally, on my way home (now laden with groceries), and just in front of the neighbouring building I saw the unmistakeable shape of an owl fly across the road in front of me and land on the corner of my building! Groceries everywhere I scrambled to get my binoculars out of my pack and just managed to confirm the rear view of an owl. As I unpacked my camera the owl left - I did not see where it went. I then continued home with the recovered groceries - with thoughts of "who cooks for you". Out quickly to survey the nearby streets and alleys there was no sign of the owl - one must be cautious with binoculars in the streets on a Friday night!
This last incident reminded me of two earlier owl adventures - one in October of 1997 - when I found a Barred Owl on the streets of the West End. The other occasion was in February 2001 and also involved groceries, this time with a Snowy Owl, just a block and a half from home, on Sunset Beach! Barred Owls have become quite common (though rarely seen) throughout may cities with sufficient green space, but less so Snowy Owls (well maybe not for the far north).
March 22 - Northern site active, Great Horned Owl seen.
Being a Saturday and with unexpectedly good weather I was able to take two trips into the park today. The morning saw me at the Saw-whet release site by about 7:40 am, but (as noted above) no owl was found. I then visited the southern Barred owl territory, both the new site and last year's. In the old area I heard owls call and then found crows watching a cavity in a tree near the far end of Lovers trail.
Early evening saw me passing through the southern territory, where I
found Monica who had been watching the pair near the Lovers/Tatlow
junction. I left her trying to relocate them while I went on to the
Northern pair's site. Eventually I was rewarded with overlapping calls
and the sight of the owls mating. After that one owl (presumably) the
female headed towards last year's nest tree. As I was trying to get back
to the site the male flew past (both me and the tree) and began hunting
near Rawlings trail.
This is really good news and proves that the dead owl from last month
was not from this pair (short of a replacement taking over, which is
quite possible).
On my way home (about 8:15 pm by now) at Second Beach I saw the
familiar silhouette of an owl, but this one had ear tufts. Hoping for a
Screech Owl, I edged forward to find an actively hunting Great Horned Owl...
The owl soon disappeared into the gloom and I continued home - well satisfied with the day!
March 22 - Mating activity at Southern site, Northern quiet.
Today (Sunday) I was expecting poor weather and the opportunity to catch up with this report! Instead we had more good weather and so I had to go out (?!) with the camera. My intention was to do non-owl things, but then I met Jerry and Freddy who were on their way to the southern site - Freddy hoping for his first Barred Owl. As we got to the usual clearing, I found an owl (the expected Barred) and so we all watched and photographed for a while. We were treated to the usual "owl chases squirrel in spiral around tree" routine. The we heard the other owl call and located it nearer to the nest site (but harder to see). After some calling the owls flew together for a while then parted. One settling further into the wood near the nest tree. Freddy and Jerry then left in search of the local Virginia Rail.
As I was on the point of leaving the owls started calling again and I
then saw the 2nd owl return amid much overlapped calling (which I
managed to record, somewhat), mating took place...
After
this the male flew to a lower perch...
Soon
after the female left for a tree near the nest. From there she made the
usual soft begging calls, while being occasionally mobbed by crows. The
male stayed put and for a while looked like he was about to produce a
pellet, but ended up taking a snooze instead.
It was now well passed 6pm so I continued (as planned) to the northern
site, but could find no owls there. Finally I returned home to work on
this report!
An excellent weekend for "owls in the park"!
March 24 - Quick check on Southern site.
Once again an owl was seen on the trail just north of the nest site - so close to the path that you could have reached out and touched it (I didn't).
March 25 - Eastern site quiet.
Today I spent some time in the territory of the Eastern pair, but there was no activity. I spent about two hours in the area including Beaver Lake and the Miniature Railway, leaving just after dark (about 8pm). No owls but the Beaver Lake beaver was active.
March 26 - Owls calling at Eastern site.
I did not venture out today, but Monica passed through all the sites. At the Eastern site she heard overlapping owl calls at about 7:40pm. When she described the exact location I realized it was very close to a potential nest tree that I had surveyed (with difficulty) about a month earlier.
March 27 - Eastern site quiet.
After Monica's reports from yesterday (Thursday) I spent an hour around dusk at the suspected eastern nest site. There were no calls or sightings.
March 29 - Eastern site quiet, Woodpecker mobs S. Owl.
Finally a sunny day - on a weekend too! Towards the end of today I happened across Monica near the Northern nest site and Eagle nest site areas. Around dusk I showed her the exact location of the Eastern (potential) nest location - maybe she'll have more success than I have had of late.
Late afternoon Freddy and Jerry were watching one of the southern owls when it was mobbed by a Pileated Woodpecker. (Can a single bird "mob" something ?) Crows then joined in and the owl left for deeper cover.
March 31 - Eastern site active.
Arriving in the territory at dusk I was just in time to hear a couple of single "who" calls. They appeared to come from the (potential) nest site. Venturing in with caution I found both owls (reasonable photo of one). They flew to the same tree for a while before leaving in the direction of Beaver Lake. I am becoming much more confident that this is indeed their chosen nest site. Unlike the other pairs it is well concealed and protected form casual (human) access.
All in all we seem to be ending the month on positive notes for all Barred Owl nest sites and with possibilities for Saw-whet and Great Horned Owls!