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2010 Field Trips
 (Last update:  April 12, 2010)

Owl Prowl
4/10/10

After several cold and windy evenings Mother Nature came through for our Owl Prowl with a beautiful star-lit Saturday night. The event attracted no fewer than 19 participants. With so many people it made sense to split into two groups, which we were able to do with Carl Freeman present and willing to lead half of the group on a night hike along the Old Indian Trail. The rest of us carpooled to several nearby locations. Both groups met with success.

Carl's group had several barred owls respond from a distance, but none close-by until they got back near the parking lot. There they were treated to a pair of owls caterwauling back and forth. They also heard coyotes and a woodcock calling in the distance.

Our experience was similar. After hearing a barred owl from quite a distance on Cooper Road, we headed to the end of Boekeloo Road where Carl had earlier heard an owl calling. En route we saw a woodcock in the road (who wouldn't move until we honked!) and then found Carl's owl. It refused to respond but was nice enough to fly right over our heads. With the sharp eyes of Chris Persinger we were able to find the owl in a nearby pine tree.

We then headed to a spot along M-22 where last May I had photographed the owl pictured on the right. Again an owl flew in without responding, and again Chris was able to spot the owl's silhouette. At the same location we later heard two owls calling back and forth, and then we saw what could have been a different owl fly over. And--like Carl's group--we enjoyed seeing a multitude of stars and planets.

All agreed that the evening was well worth the effort.
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                                                              --John Ester