Great Horned Owls Oct 16

[Gord]

Was out just at dark today and heard definately 2 if not 3 great horned owls calling on the Creek Trail at Cheam Lake Wetlands. Sounded like they were just past the bridge over the creek. Very talkative!!

Ive always guessed they are there, but this is the first time Ive heard them in the park. Beauty birds!!

[tmanson]

Gord: Nice find on the Great Horned Owls. I suppose it would be difficult to see these guys on the public hours for the park if winter hours are being kept. Do you think this was their roosting area?

Thor

[Gord]

Thor, the gate is often closed just at dark, but it isnt too far to walk from the gate and use the little sidetrail down to the trail. It was still somewhat light when they were calling, and they were calling vigerously. I could hear them at the main gate even! I would expect one could find them with enough light for a good viewing as they started to call quite early in the evening.

I do suspect this is their roosting area. It's a great horned owly area with a large group of ceders that is close to a couple of large fields. Im not often in the park in the evenings and during owl calling periods, so this is why it has taken until now to locate them. Im tentatively planning to try for more owls during the calling seasons. Perhaps we can set up a date where a few of us can go looking/listening after hours and see what we come up with.

[tmanson]

Gord: Sounds good to me. Before long, dusk/dark will be around quitting time at work anyway

[Dave]

We live next to Cheam Wetlands and we had a Great Horned Owl sitting in our backyard yesterday, Oct. 21. They are definitely in the area!

DB

[Gord]

DB

Good to hear that! Im most interested in such reports. Do you see/hear them often?

[Dave]

We have recently moved here, so I can not offer a detailed report. For the past weeks I have heard them regularly, but this was the first time that I saw one. It was 15 feet from our deck on broad daylight! It stayed a few hours and flew off once it was dark.

Two months ago we had a Barred Owl calling in the yard somewhere, but could not locate it in the dark.

DB

[Gord]

You're in a lovely area. I look forward to hearing about your sightings!! Ill keep track of your sightings to use towards the Park's checklist.

[Dave]

Admin,

I picked up a Cheam Wetlands checklist the other day and noted that Great Horned Owls are not on it. Is there a reason for this? Are they new arrivals?

DB

[Gord]

Prior to Jan 2005, GHOW has not been recorded in the park to the knowledge of those who submit records for the checklist.

On the next update, that will change. Double crested cormorant will also be an addition as it was recorded about two weeks after the update was made. Always works that way!! Last update in 2003 it was a townsend's solitare recorded for the first time just days after the checklist was sent for printing.

[JeffOver]

Wow! We live just off McNaught Rd, on a quiet street that backs onto a field. Went out to feed my dog this morning, and jays were just going crazy and little birds flying everywhere. I knew something was up, so I approached cautiously, and found out there was a Great Horned Owl sitting calmly in the tree, probably about 20-30 feet up. So db, we're even!

[JeffOver]

Well, the owl was there all day yesterday. It left between 4:00 and 5:00. This morning the crows alerted me to the arrival of the owl once again. This time it is not technically in my backyard but it's in a tree next to the one in our backyard. It's kind of exciting. It will probably stay here all day, is my guess.
Jeff

[JeffOver]

By the way, do you think it's possible to encourage it to nest here somehow? If so, how?

[Gord]

Jeff, they often nest in old red-tailed hawk and the like's nests to my knowledge. If you duplicted such a thing in a quiet spot maybe they'll take to it?
Always worth a try.
Nice bird by the way!