Been enjoying the Barred owls and the bats..............

[CathyA]

I love it when DS comes home for a visit. He loves nature too, and we would take a ride in my golf cart around sunset. We discovered 3 barred owls that were hanging around the woods close to our house every evening. I think it was a parent and 2 younger ones. Sometimes I could call to them and they would call back. Then we would sit and watch the 3 bats fly around our yard. Their silhouettes were against the last light in the western sky above the trees. So cool. I wish they made golf carts big enough to sleep in, with mosquito netting all around. I would LOVE to sleep in the woods. (and still be able to make a fast get-away). :~)
The August nights are just incredible with all the animals and sounds.
This planet is something else.

[Tussiemussies]

Totally agree with you Cathy, nature is just so beautiful and intricate. I enjoy whatching it too.

Your owl experience seems really special, having you your son with you and the owls hooting back to you...It must have been nice in the south when they had their sleeping porches!

[Wildflower]

I have a special affection for owls.... I spent some time with an owl rescue group. They are beautiful and intelligent creatures. I grew to love them so much, one in particular stole my heart away.

Bats are cool too.

I agree, this planet is something else! :+1:

[CathyA]

Thanks Tussiemussies and Wildflower!
Wow Wildflower........working with the owl rescue group must have been quite an experience!
I'm glad my chickens are safe in a run, 'cause I would never want to be mad at the owls!
One time a couple years ago, we had several barred owls living in the woods. One evening, they got to doing the call where they sound like
a bunch of monkeys in the jungle. It was soooooo cool!!
Its amazing how they fly without a sound through the woods.
They're just magnificent creatures.

[cdttmm]

Another owl lover here. :D

I was trail running at the state park across the street from where I live just last week and heard a barred owl call just above me. I stopped and searched the trees until I found him (definitely the male, as they are the smaller of the species). He wasn't sure what to make of me as I stalked him for a few minutes while he took short flights from tree to tree watching me watching him. It was super cool.

Yesterday, at the same state park, I saw a hawk as I got to the top of the mountain. It was either a sharp-shinned or Cooper's hawk -- didn't get a good look and they are tough to tell apart.

I do feel a deep love for the various birds of prey.

Actually, I love all the creatures that inhabit our world and am always fascinated by them and do what I can to protect them.

[Tussiemussies]

We have tons of hawks where I live, there is a mountain one street over called "Hawk Mountain" . They are mainly around in the fall and winter. Last year I counted twenty flying in the sky in the same area. They like to sit in these pine trees on a neighbor's backyard, you can barely see them although there are so many but you can hear their wings flapping from time-to-time. During the height of their season all the other smaller birds leave the area. I didn't understand this when we first moved here. It was November and I kept saying to my husband, there are no birds here, this is strange. Now I know there is very little cover for them once the leaves drop.

[Float On]

Love all the sounds of nature...except the gray fox who was mocking me from the woods from 3-4:30 this morning. His "ark, ark, ark" really got on my nerves. Going to leave the chickens locked up today - I think he was telling me he was hungry.

[CathyA]

Tussiemussies..............I'd LOVE to have a mountain just one street over!! Lucky you!

I can always tell when there's a hawk in the area, because the crows just go crazy.....trying to drive it away.

Float On.........I hope your chickens are okay. We only have red foxes around here, and I haven't seen any for quite awhile.
I have1/2" chicken wire over all the windows in my coop. The girls like to sit on the window sill that overlooks a large pine tree. The other night, when the owls were flying all around, one of my hens was sounding an alarm call for the longest time. I finally figured out that the owl must have been sitting on a branch right across from the window, making faces at her. haha (or licking its lips).

sometimes I make owl calls to try to get them to call back. The other evening, after the hens were roosting by that open window, I made a few owl calls. And one hen started up with the alarm calls again. haha
I guess I must have been making a pretty good call!

[Tussiemussies]

Hi Cathy a remember in the good ole days how bird calling was really popular and they would have people on as guests on shows like the Ed Sullivan show! Whistling was a big thing at one time too... : )

[Tussiemussies]

PS we are hoping to move to a secluded area in the woods. We looked at one house built on the side of a mountain I wanted it but DH was nervous about us getting old and having to drive down the steep driveway or to even get the garbage down there.

There are bears, coyote here and they just warned us that bobcats have been seen around! I wish we had owls, I have never seen one in nature, ever!

: ). Christine

[Wildflower]

Hi Cathy a remember in the good ole days how bird calling was really popular and they would have people on as guests on shows like the Ed Sullivan show! Whistling was a big thing at one time too... : )

David Letterman has a group of bird calling contest winners on his show every year. Fun to watch! :)

[Tussiemussies]

David Letterman has a group of bird calling contest winners on his show every year. Fun to watch! :)

That must be fun to watch -- are the contestants really good or is it more of a joke?