Date: 2/6/26 6:31 am From: Daniel Getman <000003a484abda6a-dmarc-request...> Subject: Great Horned Owl
Yesterday around 4pm, I saw a very large, bulky, dark-colored bird fly through the backyard towards our front. Not readily recognizing it, I went outside to see if it maybe perched in our front treeline. As soon as I opened the back door, it flew through the yard towards the woods in the back. It had been sitting on the corner of the house. I’m almost positive it was a Great Horned Owl. My guess is it was looking to grab a squirrel, that regularly visit under the nearby bird feeders, or a rabbit, which visit the yard.
My haikubox has been regularly hear its soft “hoo” at night. When I later told my wife, she said she’s been hearing one at night, seemingly right on top or around the house. When I told my neighbor, he said he’d heard one around 6:30pm the night before on top of their house and that you could “hear and feel” the call “vibrate” through their sun room.
So in and around the yard, we now have a pair of nesting Barred Owls, an Eastern Screech Owl roosting in a nest box and what I think is a male Great Horned Owl looking for a mate.
Pretty cool!
With the warmer temperatures, it feels like spring is on its way. I’m waiting for the bluebirds to return.
Dan Getman, Kirksville, northeast MO
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