Wednesday, Many Crows

[nightdog_barks]

So yesterday was pretty much blah and not worth remembering? NOT SO THIS MORNING, because I saw one of THESE:



YOU GUYS. THAT IS A GREAT HORNED OWL. OMG. I heard blue jays squawking, and then they were joined by an entire consortium of crows, both sets of birds shouting at the tops of their little avian lungs. So I got up to see what the hell was going on, and they were all in our neighbor's tree by our back yard, along with the owl. Who was just sitting there, being all dignified, swiveling his head every now and then to glare at the crows. I grabbed my binoculars and focused in, and the owl looked at me. He saw me, of this I am absolutely sure. Chango couldn't figure out why the crows were yelling -- she kept looking back and forth at them and at me, and finally decided it might be safer to stand behind me. *g* I stepped out onto the deck, and everyone took flight. The crows pursued the owl, still fussing and calling, until I couldn't hear them anymore.

It was so frickin' awesome.

Comments

[damigella]

I'm always so fascinated by your wildlife posts. This is really beautiful.
Oh, and the owl definitely saw you. Their visual acuity is amazing. Smart of you to keep binoculars handy; I used to do the same when we had a sea view to read the name of ships in harbor ;).

[nightdog_barks]

I couldn't believe it, Dami. We've lived in this neighborhood for over twenty years and I'd never seen an owl, much less a Great Horned Owl. I've heard them (a lot), but never seen one.

Heh, I keep my binoculars (a little pair of Olympus field lenses) on the kitchen counter. :-D

[elynittria]

That is so cool! I've only heard great horned owls in the wild and never actually seen one (though I'd love to).

I wonder why the crows were putting up such a fuss. I would have thought they would have wanted to keep a low profile around a predator.

[nightdog_barks]

Apparently this was part of what's called mobbing behavior, and it would take too much time and energy for the owl (or hawk or whatever) to catch one of the crows. This owl didn't seem too rattled by all the attention -- just annoyed. *g*

[elynittria]

Thanks for the link--it was very informative!