Parker MorseNot the first time this #owl has visited our backyard, if I’m right. (Specific identification welcome, if you can tell from this noisy low-light phone photo.)
Thomas Sibley@flashesofpanic lovely! looks like a barred owl to me.
Ed Anderson (he/him/his)@flashesofpanic I believe that to be a barred owl. Their call timing sounds like "who cooks for you, who cooks for you all". Nicely done in low light.
@EdA I didn’t hear it call, so I can’t confirm that, but the markings and size check out. Thanks!
@flashesofpanic I volunteer at The Owl Foundation near Vineland, doing electrical, plumbing, and other odd tasks. I also give tours to donors in the fall, that is the only time I actually get to see the owls. The foundation tries to minimize human contact so that the owls do not imprint on humans and can be released after rehab.
Cat C-B@flashesofpanic I’m hearing from environmentally minded friends in Massachusetts that there are fewer mice and chipmunks than last year, when there were many. Their theory is that the dearth of prey animals are bringing owls— especially barred owls— in closer to human habitats than usual.
Certainly friends have taken a lot more pictures of owls this year than I remember seeing in the past! I’m almost insulted that I haven’t been able to take any myself…
@megmuttonhead interesting! I hadn’t heard about that but it absolutely would make sense. Judging by your banner image we are closer in to the city than you are, but there’s a golf course and protected woodland nearby that mean we’re very much in the interface, especially for avian predators.