One big Hooter

Geo-TH,In · Apr 19, 2015

Went for a UTV ride for mushrooms. No mushrooms, but found one big owl. We were very close. He let us drove by, take pics and he just looked at us. Didn't fly away.

ypop · Apr 19, 2015

Nice PictureGeo-TH!
Ypop

Tom in TN · Apr 19, 2015

Geo,

My wife is a retired English teacher. One of the places that she taught was Kennessaw State University in Kennesaw, GA. The team mascot for their various athletic teams was the Owl. Their baseball stadium was named "Hooter Field". It was named that until the PC Police got all up in arms about the negative connotation and demanded that it be changed. I don't even know what it is now called, but it isn't Hooter Field.

Nice picture.

Tom in TN

Dean · Apr 19, 2015

Upon returning to the house at around 1:45 AM Saturday morning I heard what I believe was a screech owl and its prey, which I think was a rabbit. Both cries were distinct and the commotion lasted for sometime within 100' or so of me.

I looked for evidence the next day but found nothing.

Dean

Hank ABAB · Apr 19, 2015

Nice picture.
We have Great Grays nesting on the property most years.

Beautiful birds.
Hope the picture uploads - its from a few years back.

The picture was taken from a "blind" nearby.
A fellow comes out and bands them every year.

We also have the little Saw Whet Owls.
These will use a nest box.

The one in the picture had 5 babies in the box!

Blackhole49 · Apr 19, 2015

Screech owls are pretty small for a rabbit unless it was a baby.

JRSutton · Apr 19, 2015

I'd also add that a lot of people assume a screeching owl is a screech owl. But screech owls make an odd noise, not sure how to describe it.

If you heard screeching - it was probably something else, like barn owl.
owl noises

Dave H (MI) · Apr 19, 2015

What general area are you located? I have always wanted to see a great gray and those are some nice pictures. We have great horned and screech around here. Used to be a lot of barred owls but not so many anymore. You are lucky to live so close to something that wild and beautiful...and it doesn't eat the crops!

Dean · Apr 19, 2015

That's what I thought.

I listened to the recordings below and it sounded most like the two screech owl sounds.

The sounds of both predator and prey were clearly distinct.

Who knows. I found no evidence the following day.

Dean

Hank ABAB · Apr 19, 2015

Dave H (MI),

These Great Grays are nesting in Central Alberta (an hours drive NE of Edmonton).
They normally use old Hawk's nests, but these old nests are not always around.

The fellows that band these owls have made 2 nest platforms for them, attached them to the trees, and filled these boxes with old Magpie nest material.

A few years back, there were around 5 pairs nesting within a 4 mile radius.
I believe there were some grain swaths left out over winter that year because of a wet fall, and therefore there were loads of mice in the spring.

The Great Grays are the largest Owls in size, but not the heaviest Owls.

rhtx55 · Apr 19, 2015

The title certainly got my attention.....

gtractorfan · Apr 19, 2015

Since you're getting a collection of hooter pictures, here's another, found this big guy catnapping on the ground, wasn't pleased about being bothered either.
<image src="http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/mvphoto19487.jpg"/>

Bonnan · Apr 19, 2015

I know birds much better than tractors; depending on local that looks like a Barred Owl.
Nice pic/good OT .

Bonnan · Apr 19, 2015

Super pics; would love to add Great Grays to my life list. We have Snowy Owls in the winter but we rarely get the GG down here in Pa. Thanks for posting.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 19, 2015

TH,In. Terre Haute, In.

Hank ABAB · Apr 19, 2015

And these are the 5 baby Saw Whets from a few years back.
The Momma no longer stayed in the nest box when they were this size - there was no room!

vscummins · Apr 19, 2015

One owl that lives at my house

vscummins · Apr 19, 2015

How did you ketch him?

CKRICHARD · Apr 19, 2015

Sounds like a laughing horse, that's the best way I can think of to describe it

sms · Apr 19, 2015

I had saw wets in a box years ago also.

JRSutton · Apr 20, 2015

yes! I had horse in my head, but that's not quite right. laughing horse is better.

One big Hooter

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