This past week, every night once it gets dark, we've been rewarded with hearing high-pitched screeches that last for hours. We live across the street from a park, so we were pretty sure it was a bird or a bat hunting. But what kind of bird, and why now?
I hit the internets. I found this helpful forum:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/wildlife/msg0220414912356.html
Then I listened to some lovely bird sounds on this website (from hawks to owls to kestrels to falcons):
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/sounds/ac
I zeroed in on the great horned owl, mainly because I think owls are the coolest (ok, aside from chickens) and would be beyond-thrilled if there was an owl living nearby. I haven't heard any hoo-hooing of an owl, but the screeching of a juvenile great horned owl at the end of the link above was sounding familiar.
I found this website and clicked on "owlet calling for food":
http://www.owlpages.com/sounds.php
and that's it!
I read about great horned owls here, and found this cute pic:
http://www.birdwatchersgeneralstore.com/owl.htm
I'm so very excited to have this little family across the street from me. Apparently the little guy sits around and calls for food all night, until he is old enough to fly and hunt on his own. He'll probably settle across the street for good. Can't wait to drag the husband out there with binoculars to get a looksy.
