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Papa Barred owl, 2016 |
In 2017 there were far fewer conversations between the male and female. Much more so in 2016. In 2017 they only had one chick, killed by the blue jays. In 2016 they had two chicks. In 2018, I think they nested across the highway from us. I could hear them, and the jays, on a regular basis.
In 2020, we've had a small one on a regular irregular basis.
2024
March 3rd – Cinnamon walkies Part I. Cinnamon found it for me.
March 5th – spotted it in the tree when we were out. Video
March 14th – on the tree, afternoon.
March 16th – on the tree, noon.
Sept. 14th – on owl tree
Oct. 12th – on owl tree 📷
Nov. 1st – on owl tree📹
Nov. 5
Nov. 6th
2023
Jan. 20 – barred owl on the dead elm (video).
April 30 – After gunfire in the forest, two owls calling.
May 11 – Found two owl pellets.
May 19th – Heard one call just before dark.
Saturday night, Sept. 2nd – heard a pair calling.
Nov. 3 – barred owl Nov. 3
Nov. 11th – on the trailcam: barred owl
2022
March 18 – I heard one calling in the forest near the meadow.
March 19 – One was sitting on the flag pole. JB called me over, but it flew as I was on my way.
April 7 – 5:45 p.m., down the hill in the forest, a pair calling to one another.
Friday, May 13th – He and his mate were calling to one another.
I reported my sightings to Bird Studies Canada. It's an easy form, and good to contribute to citizen science.
I have 13 videos of the barred owls this year!
This video got the most attention. Papa owl bathing in the wetland. Later, he is grooming.
Owl bathing from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
What a gift, watching our Barred owl having a bath in the wetland. He knew I was there, I've been watching him for more than a month. In the background you can hear the rose-breasted grosbeak, blue jay, grey tree frog, etc.! Just before he went for a swim, a chickadee was trying to talking him into taking off. I thought I heard the owl chick, but I'm not sure. The siren at about 2:00 startled him. He sat a long time grooming.
Momma owl fell asleep on the branch. Before she did so, you could hear her 'solicitation call', when she was checking in with the chicks.
Momma owl on branch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
2021
Feb. 10 – Jos and I were walking in the afternoon. We spotted the owl , with a rabbit in its talons.
Sept. 5 – 4 a.m. JB heard them out the bathroom window.
Sept. 6 – 9:30 p.m., calling for Cinnamon. No Cinn, but an owl calling.
Sept. 7 – 6 a.m. I heard them outside.
2020
Mar. 21 – I had the door open at night. I heard it calling in the woods.
April 23 – Owl pellets! far end of frog pond.
April 27 – Owl pellet pine tree at front.
April 23 – Owl pellets! far end of frog pond.
April 27 – Owl pellet pine tree at front.
Aug. 1 – I heard the female making that female solicitation call to the young one, near dusk.
Aug. 2 – Early, 9 am., I heard the full she-cooks-for-youooooooo song. I went out, but couldn't find them.
Aug. 17 – Forest beside frog pond, Part 2, 📹
Aug. 18 – Front yard! 📹
Aug. 20 – backyard on sumac
Sept. 10 – in the dark, in the forest, hooting
Sept. 22 – on the wire across the highway.📹
Sept. 23 – beside the frog pond, flew across, landed.
Nov. 10 – right at the pond, again. Flew over my head.📹
Dec. 24 – atop the flag pole 6:30 a.m.
2019
Jan. 1st - in the backyard!
Jan. 2 – Owl pellets!
Jan. 28 – Front feeder and forest owl – jays harassing it in the forest.
Mar. 5 – Blue jays harassing one.
April 13 – I heard it call at 5:30 a.m.! Maybe they will nest here this year.
April 16 – Accidentally flushed owl from tree on The Point, 10:30 a.m.
April 23rd – I heard one about a dozen times, 10 p.m., just in the backyard near the nest. Perhaps?
May 20 – Off near the point, calling several times.
June 1st – JB heard it in the wee hours of the morning.
Sept. 15 – The wee hours I heard it 4 or 5 times.
Sept. 24 – About 4 p.m. across the highway.
Oct. 16 – About 10 p.m. I heard it calling out several time, outside the Muskoka Room.
Jan. 2 – Owl pellets!
Jan. 28 – Front feeder and forest owl – jays harassing it in the forest.
Mar. 5 – Blue jays harassing one.
April 13 – I heard it call at 5:30 a.m.! Maybe they will nest here this year.
April 16 – Accidentally flushed owl from tree on The Point, 10:30 a.m.
April 23rd – I heard one about a dozen times, 10 p.m., just in the backyard near the nest. Perhaps?
May 20 – Off near the point, calling several times.
June 1st – JB heard it in the wee hours of the morning.
Sept. 15 – The wee hours I heard it 4 or 5 times.
Sept. 24 – About 4 p.m. across the highway.
Oct. 16 – About 10 p.m. I heard it calling out several time, outside the Muskoka Room.
2018
Mar. 5th – First pellets of the year! Snow, barred owl pellet
Mar. 11th – 12:30 Blue Jays harassing the owl on the point. It flew off.
Mar. 18th – Afternoon, blue jays harassing it. Then Oliver's Lot, in the trees.
May 2nd – After dinner, I heard them calling. They were across the highway. Found a pellet, this afternoon, chipmunk.
May 4 – Found a tail feather in the forest.
May 26 – 10:30 a.m. Heard female solicitation call ( archive video, June 3, 2016), west end of the frog pond.
July 30 – About 1:30 a.m., heard one calling in the forest out the bedroom window.
Aug. 15 – One in the yard, murmuring, 2 a.m., another way off in the wetland.
Aug. 29 – I heard one, in the wee hours of the morning.
Dec. 8th – Owl pellet, mouse bones, partially eaten.
Mar. 11th – 12:30 Blue Jays harassing the owl on the point. It flew off.
Mar. 18th – Afternoon, blue jays harassing it. Then Oliver's Lot, in the trees.
May 2nd – After dinner, I heard them calling. They were across the highway. Found a pellet, this afternoon, chipmunk.
May 4 – Found a tail feather in the forest.
May 26 – 10:30 a.m. Heard female solicitation call ( archive video, June 3, 2016), west end of the frog pond.
July 30 – About 1:30 a.m., heard one calling in the forest out the bedroom window.
Aug. 15 – One in the yard, murmuring, 2 a.m., another way off in the wetland.
Aug. 29 – I heard one, in the wee hours of the morning.
Dec. 8th – Owl pellet, mouse bones, partially eaten.
2017
Jan. 22nd – Blue jays clued me in. Photos and video!
Jan. 24th – Near the nest, blue jays alerted me again.
Feb. 24th – Found an owl pellet under his favourite tree!
Mar. 29th – Pooped under his tree in the night.
April 3rd – Another two mutes and a pellet!
April 10th – Another nocturnal visit, fishy pellet.
April 20th – 13:30 Full song. No signs of them otherwise.
April 29th – They were having a conversation in the day.
May 12th – Lots of mute under the favourite tree.
May 13th – I've heard momma making the female solicitation call over the past few days. She must be on the nest! It's interesting, as I haven't heard them doing many conversations, like last year. You can hear that call in my video.
May 15th – I clearly heard a hatched chick begging for food! You can hear it here. There is no sign that it is a nest. It took me ages to find it last year.
May 22nd – chicks still howling for food in the day.
May 25 – Momma was in a tree, about 10' from the nesting cavity, cooing to her babes. Papa nowhere to be found.
May 29th – Momma in favourite tree, doing the solicitation call, then the "Who-cooks-for-you" call.
June 3rd – Momma was in the backyard <= video, the robins, who are nest building, were pissed off.
June 4 & 5 – She's out and about every day. She was talking to her chicks. Also, I heard her in the night, at 3:00 a.m., "Who-cooks-for-you-aaalllllll".
June 7th – Blue jay harassing mom on the tree. She stares down at me, cooing to comfort the chick<=video. She flew away, so they would chase her, and leave the chick alone.
June 10th – Chick is near the nest, couldn't find it. More blue jays harassing her. She flew south. Momma off calling in the forest.
June 11th – Chick is dead on a branch. I'm so sad. Momma watches the body. Their final days.
June 12 – Pair on tree near nest.
June 18 – heard momma in nest vicinity one coo
June 22 – 3:30 a.m. heard full sentences.
June 23 – 3:00 a.m., up putting creme on poison ivy blisters, heard distinct male & female song.
July 3rd – 2:00 - 3:00 a.m. singing.
July 5th – 4:30 a.m., one owl singing.
July 6th – After dinner, I heard the pair calling (Sept. 9, 2012), straight to the backyard. Next, screaming blue jays showed up. They shifted about 100m east, blue jay calls repeated, and a third time.
July 29 – One owl, calling at 4:30 a.m.
Sept. 17 – One owl, night time.
Sept. 18 – 9 p.m., called 6 or 7 times. One owl.
Nov. 2nd – Blue jays harassing one owl.
Nov. 25th – BLue jays harassing an owl beyond the fallen tree.
Jan. 24th – Near the nest, blue jays alerted me again.
Feb. 24th – Found an owl pellet under his favourite tree!
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| 2017 |
April 3rd – Another two mutes and a pellet!
April 10th – Another nocturnal visit, fishy pellet.
April 20th – 13:30 Full song. No signs of them otherwise.
April 29th – They were having a conversation in the day.
May 12th – Lots of mute under the favourite tree.
May 13th – I've heard momma making the female solicitation call over the past few days. She must be on the nest! It's interesting, as I haven't heard them doing many conversations, like last year. You can hear that call in my video.
May 15th – I clearly heard a hatched chick begging for food! You can hear it here. There is no sign that it is a nest. It took me ages to find it last year.
May 22nd – chicks still howling for food in the day.
May 25 – Momma was in a tree, about 10' from the nesting cavity, cooing to her babes. Papa nowhere to be found.
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| 2017 |
June 3rd – Momma was in the backyard <= video, the robins, who are nest building, were pissed off.
June 4 & 5 – She's out and about every day. She was talking to her chicks. Also, I heard her in the night, at 3:00 a.m., "Who-cooks-for-you-aaalllllll".
June 7th – Blue jay harassing mom on the tree. She stares down at me, cooing to comfort the chick<=video. She flew away, so they would chase her, and leave the chick alone.
June 10th – Chick is near the nest, couldn't find it. More blue jays harassing her. She flew south. Momma off calling in the forest.
June 11th – Chick is dead on a branch. I'm so sad. Momma watches the body. Their final days.
June 12 – Pair on tree near nest.
June 18 – heard momma in nest vicinity one coo
June 22 – 3:30 a.m. heard full sentences.
June 23 – 3:00 a.m., up putting creme on poison ivy blisters, heard distinct male & female song.
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| 2017 |
July 5th – 4:30 a.m., one owl singing.
July 6th – After dinner, I heard the pair calling (Sept. 9, 2012), straight to the backyard. Next, screaming blue jays showed up. They shifted about 100m east, blue jay calls repeated, and a third time.
July 29 – One owl, calling at 4:30 a.m.
Sept. 17 – One owl, night time.
Sept. 18 – 9 p.m., called 6 or 7 times. One owl.
Nov. 2nd – Blue jays harassing one owl.
Nov. 25th – BLue jays harassing an owl beyond the fallen tree.
2016
January 23 – Owl after a mouse in the snow
April 19th – they were calling in the day.
April 19th – they were calling in the day.
April 22nd – they were calling at 4:00 a.m.
May 6th – On a branch in the yard(plus info)
May 17 – Out looking for the owl nest... I found a young male bear.
May 22 – Female barred owl emerges (a hot day!)
May 24 – Male bathing and grooming (see videos below).
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| Momma outside nesting cavity, 2016 |
May 25 – Female farther away, hoots in the night.
May 29 – Female panting outside nest in afternoon.
May 30th – An owl and a bear
May 31 – Heard raccoon at a tree. Both owls went after it.
June 1st – Momma on guard at the nest
June 2nd – Around 4:30 p.m. Papa called in the forest. Momma answered from near the nest. I imagine chickie had branched, but the bugs were bad and I did not visit.
June 3rd – Visited at 6:30 a.m., the chick had branched for sure.
June 4th – Around 2:00 a.m., I heard the tenor/bass notes of momma and papa's song, then the soprano of the chick. Later, 4:00 a.m., chick mourning the end of the night, asking for more food.
June 5th – An afternoon jaunt, Momma plucked a mouse from the forest floor.
June 7th – I saw momma 100m+ away from the nest, in the backyard, she flew into the wetland
June 8th – Momma could be heard in the backyard at 6:00 a.m.
June 11 – I heard Momma murping around the frog pond.
June 12 – Hubby heard Momma murping in meadow.
June 13 – Bedtime: heard Momma 'Whooooo", chick responded.
June 14 – Went out at 6:30 to see and spotted Momma and TWO chicks! Heard her call 'Who-cooks-for-you-allllll' after dinner. Heard the male in the forest at night. What a surprise:
June 15th – Momma flew by as I watered the veggie garden.
June 24th – 9 p.m., another sighting of momma, I could hear the chicks!
Oct. 6th – Looked like a chick hunting, harassed by blue jays! I hadn't seen any for months.
Dec. 23rd – One out hunting in the afternoon sun (video).
May 30th – An owl and a bear
May 31 – Heard raccoon at a tree. Both owls went after it.
June 1st – Momma on guard at the nest
June 2nd – Around 4:30 p.m. Papa called in the forest. Momma answered from near the nest. I imagine chickie had branched, but the bugs were bad and I did not visit.
June 3rd – Visited at 6:30 a.m., the chick had branched for sure.
June 4th – Around 2:00 a.m., I heard the tenor/bass notes of momma and papa's song, then the soprano of the chick. Later, 4:00 a.m., chick mourning the end of the night, asking for more food.
June 7th – I saw momma 100m+ away from the nest, in the backyard, she flew into the wetland
June 8th – Momma could be heard in the backyard at 6:00 a.m.
June 11 – I heard Momma murping around the frog pond.
June 12 – Hubby heard Momma murping in meadow.
June 13 – Bedtime: heard Momma 'Whooooo", chick responded.
June 14 – Went out at 6:30 to see and spotted Momma and TWO chicks! Heard her call 'Who-cooks-for-you-allllll' after dinner. Heard the male in the forest at night. What a surprise:
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| Happy family! 2016 |
June 24th – 9 p.m., another sighting of momma, I could hear the chicks!
Oct. 6th – Looked like a chick hunting, harassed by blue jays! I hadn't seen any for months.
Dec. 23rd – One out hunting in the afternoon sun (video).
PREVIOUS YEARS
September 10, 2012 – I heard Hooting owls in the night
Jan., 2013 – Found killed on the road
June 23, 2013 –Who cooks for you? – What a hoot!
Nov. 14, 2014 –Serendipity... looking for Mike Muskrat I found an owl! (daytime!)
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| Owl chick feather Found on the back deck! |
I reported my sightings to Bird Studies Canada. It's an easy form, and good to contribute to citizen science.
I have 13 videos of the barred owls this year!
This video got the most attention. Papa owl bathing in the wetland. Later, he is grooming.
Owl bathing from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
What a gift, watching our Barred owl having a bath in the wetland. He knew I was there, I've been watching him for more than a month. In the background you can hear the rose-breasted grosbeak, blue jay, grey tree frog, etc.! Just before he went for a swim, a chickadee was trying to talking him into taking off. I thought I heard the owl chick, but I'm not sure. The siren at about 2:00 startled him. He sat a long time grooming.
Momma owl fell asleep on the branch. Before she did so, you could hear her 'solicitation call', when she was checking in with the chicks.
Momma owl on branch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
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