[obol] Vaux Swifts and Western Screech-owls

[Andy.Frank at kp.org]

Last night there were 30-40 VAUX SWIFT around the Chapman chimney in NW 
Portland.  It doesn't take them very long to all get in when there are 
this few, but they still ceremonioiusly circled around for a few minutes 
before flying into the chimney for the night.

My family and I are thoroughly enjoying our nesting WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS. 
Each night we have been watching and learning something new about them. 
They have not been seen during the day since that first time the squirrel 
ran past their hole, though another time a squirrel was busy looking down 
into the hole during the day.  It didn't go in, and nothing came up.  The 
owls have been pretty punctual; around 820-830 one will perch at the hole 
and sit there for a few minutes.  If we're outside it will stare down 
directly at us.  After awhile it eventually flies off (silently) and then 
the second owl will usually take its place.  The one that flies first will 
go in various directions but will stay nearby judging by its bouncing-ball 
calling.  We have been learning new sounds that I had not been aware that 
they make.  One night one made hooting sounds similar in quality to its 
"bouncing-ball" one but this was more even without the acceleration toward 
the end.  Another time we heard the adult left at the nest make a sound 
that's hard to describe;  my daughter described as a chirp and my wife as 
a meow.  Apparently they use this to welcome food back to the nest. 

Last night my daughter Amy age 15 and I stood underneath the nesthole at 
about 8:40 so it was mostly dark but there was still some light in the 
sky.  An owl perched at the hole was quietly staring down at us while we 
looked back up at it.  Amy then turned and noticed that just behind and to 
the left of us, the other owl was perched on a branch, beautifully 
silhouetted against the mostly dark sky, also looking at us. I think that 
if Amy hadn't already been a lover of nature before this, she would be 
now.

Andy Frank
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://oregonbirdwatch.org/pipermail/obol/attachments/20080501/ba0ded6f/attachment.html