Close encounter with a Barred owl

19 years ago

Yesterday morning, 09/20/04 a barred owl was on the ground in our yard. It appeared it could not fly. I followed it into our woods. It would fly a few feet using both wings then light on the ground. About 30 minutes after I first saw it, I located it again in the woods, on the ground. I had a little bowl of canned dog food in case it was truly hurt. It let me approach with 3-4 feet. It clicked its bill at me as a warning and fluffed up its neck feathers to intimidate me. I left the meat, and left it alone to calm down. 45 minutes later, it had moved off the ground onto a large downed tree limb, but showed no inclination to fly. 5 hours later, it was gone. I speculated it may have had a near brush with an auto, or eaten a poisoned mouse. A friend says he has seen similar behavior in owls on his farm. Can anyone confirm this is normal behavior and/or explain the behavior?

Comments (5)

fairy_toadmother
19 years ago
did it appear to be a juvie? that is what it reminds me of.
Elly_NJ
19 years ago
Get it to a rehabber, please. Throw a towel over it (be careful of the feet and beak) and carefully put it in a box lined with a cloth, close the box and keep it in a warm, dark place. Look on this list for a rehabber.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rehabber list
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Yep Beelize, My eyes were wide! Since then, it's been nervous out there! Syncal, I wanted to say how sorry I am to hear of your loss. What a horrible thing. I'd have felt frustrated, heartbroken, a host of emotions. Miss Kitty, we're in the Pac NW, about 30 or miles north of Seattle, though in the foothills of the Cascades. We have predators of every variety, but they usually remain aloof and we don't see them much, hence the surprise. The encounter was on Sunday. The following Fri-nite, we lost a bird. That cranked the nerve switch up a notch. One of our best muscovies mind you. We were still working on their permanent structure, but they had been fine all year in their pen. Whatever it was left a real mess. Based on all I've read about predators and their leavings, I couldn't i.d. it. Raccoons go for the head (I imagine becuase it has the bird by the neck) but our muscovy was not decapitated. Possums go for the guts, but ours was not disembowled either. He was on his back and filleted at the breast. What ever it was chowed straight in from that angle, and left the remains. Cougars, I'm told, usually haul away and bury their prey, but not always, so I'm not sure. Coincidence? Outside of a dog attack in broad daylight, it is the only loss we've suffered. Three days later, our neighbor saw the cougar in his driveway when they pulled in. It lingered for awhile as they waited in the car. The Wildlife Fish & Game were contacted again. We haven't seen Freddie Cougar since, so don't know. Maybe he went home. Sad fact is, he may have been homeless altogether. They're being pressed out of most territory thanks to so much development. It's not his fault. But I sure feel silly walking up to it like some cougar whisperer saying "here kitty, kitty". Call me Mr. Magoo. RJ gave me a rifle lesson. Doubtful I'd ever use it, but I shot my first tin can! Am thinking about mounting it on the wall over the mantel. :0>
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I've had a pair of Barred Owls nesting in my backyard for eight years now. I used to have lots of pictures on here from previous years nests but they have been removed over time. However, here is a picture of mama owl sitting in the nest this year while there were eggs or tiny young in there. Now she sits on a limb of another tree guarding her nest of young. (I saw a little one peeking out at me yesterday while I was in the yard). As you can see, the nest site is in a large tree that lost a limb many years ago and this resulted in a large cavity in that spot. What you are describing of the owl sitting in one spot tells me that her nest is nearby and that young ones are in the nest. Check all the big trees you have closely near where she is sitting and maybe you will find what she is guarding. Good luck and keep us posted if you find the nest!!
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Oh that sounds like great news to me. I like happy endings. :)
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On a lighter note, I live in an independent living section of a facility that also has assisted living and memory care. I've been almost two years and believe me, it was a tough transition from my little garden home, but a necessary one. We must comply with federal and state regulations in dealing with covid-19, but at least we are not confined to our rooms as when the norovirus hit last fall. Visitors, family, vendors, and such are not allowed in, although things can be brought to the door, received, and brought to our rooms. The biggest thing that hit today was when we were told we could no longer sit 3 or 4 to a table.have you any idea how 80 and 90 year olds behave when they're kicked out of "their" seats and have to share a table with a stranger, who may or may not be dealing with a full deck. I simply sat back and enjoyed it all. All activities canceled as well. We won't die from this, certainly our medical conditions will get us first. Very few complaints.. I am thankful that I am able to live in a safe place with good food provided, and people dedicated to making our life meaningful. My children don't have to worry about me, someone else is doing that for them. They have enough to worry about. I hope some of you can find some compassion for others in your life.
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marylandmojo
19 years ago
woodswatcher: Although I claim to be no Barred Owl authority, I have observed them from near and far, for many years. I have called them up (with a Barred Owl call) while fully camoed in the early Spring, and had them land on limbs right in front of me. Twice in my life, I have called one up, while camoed and unseen by the owl--which confused him and got him calling and looking. A female came to his call, and the two mated on a limb right in front of me! I tried to nurse a Barred Owl with a broken limb (in my bathtub with the shower curtain drawn), but he kept pecking off the splint I so laboriously taped on his wing-bone, and it never healed. I used to go out in the country, and shoot into a flock of Starlings with a shotgun, and take the 5 or 6 home for owl feeders, that were wounded (generally broken wings) but still alive. I'd throw one in the tub, and draw the shower curtain, and later when the lights were out, I'd hear the Starling shriek as he was caught by the owl, and dispatched. (This, MANY years ago.) I've seen Barred Owls hunt in the daytime, when Winters were terrible, with snow 3' deep for months. Prey birds and animals died of starvation, or were underneath the snow, and Barred Owls were starving. In such disastrous periods, they hunt by day (and probably night, also).
But I must say, I've never seen a healthy Barred Owl hopping around as you describe. Someone who studies Barred Owls exclusively would know WORLDS more about them then I. Just thought I'd check in because I know a bit about them, and have never seen such behavior. But I don't know enough about them to know if they go through a molt, which might incapacitate them as you mentioned. And, your thought about the owl being struck by a car is a very reasonable scenario, also. Where's a Barred Owl expert when you need one?
Elly_NJ
19 years ago
Well: I rehabilitated owls and hawks for over 10 years. I'm sure there are people who have done this longer than I, but if you can get close to a bird because it seems debilitated or injured, and it does not fly away, it's a good guess that it's debilitated or injured. Many injuries can be treated by rehabilitators, so if you care about the bird, it's a good idea to get it to a rehabilitator.

The man at owlcam is not a rehabilitator but he has studies Barreds for many years. I would consider him an expert on behavior. But by the time you find an expert, the animal can die : (
GGGF
11 years ago
A red-tailed hawk led me through the woods, hopping and dragging its wings -- to its nest. It came to get me to rescue its nest from dive-bombing crows. I had rescued the nest once before by throwing rocks at the crows, and they never fogot it. They have been grateful ever after, and bring their new fledglings to my yard every year to show them to me. They circle me every single year. Could it be that the owl was trying to get you to save its nest from a snake or something? They are incredibly intelligent, these raptors.
Oh -- my hawks, ravens and owls and crows are now all one big happy family....they sleep in the same trees, no more dive-bombing.

Close encounter with a Barred owl

Comments (5)

fairy_toadmother

Elly_NJ

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