Date: 6/16/26 4:20 pm From: Alfred Maley <alfredmaley...> Subject: [NHBirds] A Sunbathing Mr. Barred Owl Drives Mr. GCFL Bananas
At 2:50 PM this afternoon the male Great Crested Flycatcher that is nesting
in a Wood Duck box began screaming “Predator” and just wouldn’t stop. I
went out to the back deck and Mr. Barred Owl was spread eagle/owl on the
sunny lawn, watching the sky for danger through half closed eyes. The
flycatcher nest is only 20 yards away.
This is the 3rd time I’ve seen Mr. Owl sunbathing over the last few years,
but I expect that many species of owl engage in the behavior when they need
to.
At 3 PM the owl lifted off the lawn and repaired to the crabapple trees.
Both male and female owls have decided that they are not going to nest this
year, no matter how I try to fatten them up. Perhaps they sense from their
occasional hunting trips that their children would have a hard time
surviving this Fall and Winter.
But having owls dining only ten feet away has allowed me to eavesdrop on
their dinner conversation. I have heard a soft trill (similar to a Screech
Owl) for which I have no interpretation, but a soft Wup Wup Wup by the male
suggests “Try the ratling (weaned rat), it tastes just like veal”
