Northern Pygmy-Owls Jan 14

[Gord]

On the way to Church yesterday morning with the family we (happily not the kids) saw a little pygmy-owl dead on Young Rd near Luckakuck. Hit by a car no doubt

On the way home and at the lights on Vedder Rd at Spruce Drive I saw one fly over the road heading east!!

Almost makes you wonder if there are some numbers down in the Valley right now. Keep eyes open!

[Dave]

If anyone sees a pygmy, I am more than ready to visit!!!! This bird has been avoiding me for quite a while already!

Dave

[Deleted]

Hi, Dave and everyone.

I think Northern Pygmy-owl is a nemesis species for most of us. I chased this species for years before finally finding one at Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver a few years ago. I went there several times (as it was being reported regularly there that winter, as in previous winters also), before I was successful.

Then there are those few who seem to see them all over and have their favourite locations. Rick Toochin used to say he would see them frequently on the tops of the small trees around the parking lot at the ski area on Mt. Seymour in winter.

Closer to home for most of us, Glen Rider would say he often saw them in winter on the powerline wires along the Chilliwack River road, presumably toward the far end more than this end.

I'm not recommending that you drive out to Chilliwack Lake before breakfast for a guaranteed sighting, but I suppose if you're ever going that way, it's worth keeping in mind to watch for a tennis ball perched on the wires.

Good luck,

Stan