Some dogs know when an owl is near
Phil Taunton
Friday, April 24, 2009
The dogs were raising such a ruckus last week that I thought they clearly had lost their minds.
Our property borders I-35 in the northwest part of Emporia and, if an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance or a highway patrol officer has a siren blaring on their way to help someone in distress or to investigate an incident, something primal goes through the dogs’ brain and sets them off.
It’s nothing unusual for them to give voice once or twice during the night and especially early in the morning. Perhaps they feel the sirens are a pack of exuberant coyotes just over the hill, howling and barking at the moon. The dogs might feel the supremacy of their territory is being compromised, so they commence to howling at their distant kin, joining in the din. It’s actually pretty comical, and my apologies to the neighbors.
The other night was different though. Psycho Sue (who reminds me of Wifeus in more ways than one) kept on barking. She kept fussing even when I got up from my slumber, went to the door and told her to hush. Like Wifeus, Sue has always felt the need to get the last word in!
When she didn’t quiet, I knew something had her undivided attention. Though we live in town, our yard plays host to a number of critters that roam the night, most noticeably neighborhood cats, other dogs, opossums and rabbits. Through the years, raccoons have also wreaked havoc on our bird feeders and feasted on the pet pigeons I keep as a hobby and for early bird dog training.
When I couldn’t get Sue to hush and mind her manners, I donned sweats, slipped on my clogs and went outside to investigate. This was at about 2:30 a.m., mind you, and it was a bit chilly just to go out in my BVDs, barefoot to boot! About halfway to the dog pen, something took flight and landed in the locust tree. From where it came, I just don’t know.
When I went to the locust tree, the large bird flew again and landed in the ash tree and then like a ghostly apparition, it went to a lookout atop the power pole. I had a strong suspicion it was an owl but couldn’t tell what kind it was. I retrieved a flashlight from the house and identified it as a large barred owl.
Nature notes
Bird-watching is a fascinating hobby. I, and my parents before me, have maintained a couple of purple martin houses through the years and still marvel at their antics. My current colony consists of seven houses and has 32 to 35 martins jockeying for squatter’s rights at last count. They are now just beginning to build their nest and I expect more new arrivals and “first-year birds” until mid-May.
The night I spooked the owl, I had a sneaking suspicion it, too, was interested in the martins. Sue voiced her “intruder in the yard” alarm once again last Monday night, and my suspicions were confirmed when I found the barred owl perched on one of the martin houses.
“Wifeus, step away from the shotgun,” I said. “I know you love the martins, but owls are protected. You should know by now, nature has its ways.”
Goodness gracious, I hate it when that woman gets her feathers ruffled!
Not knowing whether the owl could actually reach into the compartment of the house for its prey, or if they have been documented as doing so, I contacted Birds of North America online, a service of Cornell University (http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA). BNA is a great source for accurate information about birding and all the birds that live all around us.
BNA replied the next day and said there was a very good chance the owl was looking for a meal. Barred owls are opportunistic predators and consume a lot of small mammals like rats and mice. They also prey on rabbits and birds as large as grouse. Although they also eat reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, the primary diet of barred owls during its breeding period from December through May is composed of up to 25 percent birds.
Their distinctive, guttural call, “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you” is often used as a locator call by turkey hunters in the spring. The owl is 19-20 inches tall, can weigh a little over a pound and has a wingspread up to 44 inches long. Whether the owl can prey on the martins while they are in the houses is still a mystery.
VVV
I mentioned last week morel mushrooms should be popping up any day now.
Forty dollars for gasoline, $20 for pizza, $4.83 for two dozen minnows and $3 for soft drinks. Wifeus catching a crappie and me finding a mess of morel mushrooms on a gorgeous spring afternoon down at the lake — priceless!
madpoet (anonymous) says...
I have a good owl story. Years ago I was working 2nd shift and came home after 11pm. As I drove past the hill our "cave cellar" was under, a white shape sprang into the air not 4 feet from my window. Scared me half to death. It turned out we had a barn owl in residence. I was thrilled once my heart rate went back to normal. I found feathers and mutes by a hay bale in the barn's leanto. We're not sure where it was roosting but were very glad to have a flying mousetrap around. :)
April 24, 2009 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )