[obol] Benazir

[Cliff & Joanne Weber]

OBOL, hello;

Our Lunch With The Birds reports have been prit-tee uneventful lately, so
maybe we can make up for it with a Great Horned Owl mommy whom we've named
Benazir.

Benazir's nest is located on the south side of Hwy 26, west beyond
Beaverton, Rock Creek, and Cornelius Pass road.

You can see her head and its ears with 8x binoculars from the parking lot of
a business complex just across the highway.

Set up here: http://tinyurl.com/ytvypo

Benazir's nest is located here: http://tinyurl.com/2grzzu

Thomas Bros Portland Street Guide; page 563, square J6, and page 564, square
A6.

A 20x telescope is really good for close-ups of Benazir's owly face and her
perky little ears.

Be aware that the parking lot is patrolled by security; but there is no need
to either fear them or evade them. Just tell the man that you're there to
see the owl across the highway and he'll be happy. You might want to bring
some hearing protection as the location is saturated with vehicle noise from
Hwy 26. I understand that owls have very sensitive hearing. I just can't
imagine one setting up her nursery so close to potentially damaging
decibels; but then I also understand that GH's are basically lazy creatures
and don't like to construct their own nests. Well . . since that one was
handy; there she is.

There's also a Red Tail Hawk's nest that someone might like to monitor. The
hawks haven't laid any eggs yet, but they're paired and have been observed
loitering about their nest site in recent weeks. Today they were up on the
tippy top of a high voltage transmission tower. The hawks' nest can be seen
from the east side of the very same parking lot as Benazir but is somewhat
obscured by branches. A clearer view is listed below.

Set up here: http://tinyurl.com/yocg9h

RT's nest is here: http://tinyurl.com/ype4nc

Restrooms? . .  No

ADA friendly? . . Though both viewing sites are ADA friendly, it might be a
challenge for people who have trouble standing. Joanne is currently on
crutches for a broken foot, but she has one good leg and I set up our tripod
in such a way so she could lean on the car and steady herself. Shrubs and
wild growth might prove difficult to see over by wheelers.

Gourmet coffee? . . Starbucks is not too far way-- south on Cornelius Pass
next door to Fred Meyer.


Cliff & Joanne Weber
Beaverton (Bethany area)