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FBC Owl Prowl--a real "Hoot!"
- To: "Valley Birds" <jwcoffey@tricon.net>, "Foothills Bird Club Listserv" <foothillsbirdclub@listbot.com>, "Carolinabirds" <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
- Subject: FBC Owl Prowl--a real "Hoot!"
- From: "J. Dwayne Martin" <dlmartin@twave.net>
- Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 07:10:22 -0500
- Reply-To: "J. Dwayne Martin" <dlmartin@twave.net>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
First, we'd like to thank all of those who turned out for the Foothills Bird
Club's impromptu Owl Prowl! We were expecting two or three folks and wound
up with fourteen! We started the evening at Bass Lake (part of Moses Cone
Manor) in Blowing Rock, NC. While waiting on us to arrive, Connie Bauer
had the pleasure of hearing two Great Horned Owls call back and forth to
each other----a good sign when you're about to do a prowl!
We walked back towards the cement trout ponds to play the tape. As soon as
we began playing, the Great Horned Owls really cranked things up and
"hooted" and hollered! They both flew overhead but were far enough up that
some of our group didn't get to see them (rats!). Then, we played the part
of the tape reserved for "rarities"---and holy cow! We played the
Long-eared Owl, and had one respond!!! He (or she) gave their deep "who"
call several times. It was a distinctly different sound than the "who" of
the Great Horneds. One of our group members saw the bird fly just along the
tree line after the last "who" and we didn't see or hear it anymore.
As a side note, I'm sure that the resident folks won't be going back out the
Bass Lake anytime soon in the dark! I think our group of darkly clothed owl
seekers standing at woods edge was a little too much for them---and then
their was the Barn Owl's blood curdling scream as one jogger came by. She
probably thought we were some sort of cult acting out ancient Halloween
rituals! Needless to say, she didn't come back around!
We then went to the parking area of Trout Lake (also part of Moses Cone
Manor) where we had another---and closer encounter with a Long-eared Owl!!!!
It responded to the very first repetition on the tape, and was barely 50
yards away---giving all of us a slight jar! It flew then (we think) and
wasn't heard again. At first, we thought perhaps someone was in the woods
and they had done an imitation call back to us, but it was way too good to
have been a person! We couldn't believe that we were hearing these
Long-eared Owls, they must be more common than most people think. We only
wish we could've gotten the spot light on him so everyone could see. We
also had an Eastern Screech Owl doing its winny call while there.
On to Julian Price Picnic Area (on the Blue Ridge Parkway) where we heard
another Eastern Screech Owl. Our best chance at Barred Owl was at Julian
Price Campground. The campground was pretty full so we decided to park on
the lake side and walk into the amphitheater. No owls were heard, but at
least we got to warm our tooshes next to the fire that the ranger had made!
(Yes, Joann, next time I'll try to remember the marshmallows!) Then, we
headed down the parkway towards Grandfather Mountain. We have a spot where
we usually hear Saw-whet Owls---and by golly, we did hear a Saw-whet!!!! It
sounded so incredibly close that it had to be within 20-25 yards. After the
first set of taped calls we heard it, and I really didn't even have to play
the tape anymore because it called and called and called and called. We
looked and looked and looked and looked, but there was nothing to be seen.
At one point, I think we had it on a limb with the flashlight but it must've
been on to us and moved further back, as the calls seemed further away after
that.
We only had four species, but we had quite an adventure and think we'll plan
another prowl sometime in the future. In the meantime, get out there and
listen! You never know who might be calling!
*************************
Dwayne & Lori Martin
Foothills Bird Club
Claremont, NC
dlmartin@twave.net