Wildlife & Related

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Originally Posted by Hummer

At 11:43 p.m., I heard a window strike by the front door windows. There was a Long-eared Owl splayed on the ground below. I brought it in to examine it and it seemed to be okay, not showing any broken wing or neurological issue from the collision. I gently held his shoulders so it couldn't fly or pierce me with it's talons. Took a photo and set it out on the porch. It seems fine, alert but resting. Will check in the morning....

I have caught, handled (and banded) many owl species but this was a first in-hand with a Long-eared Owl. It's quite a lot smaller that the very similar Great Horned Owl, and twice the size of a Western Screech-owl. I've seen Long-eared occasionally in our orchard and wildlife shelter belt but they're elusive and uncommon. Window strikes at our Palisade farm home are infrequent. Owls are more often injured by flying into wire fences and power lines at night. Hope this one survives.


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Cute little bugger.

I've always been fascinated with owls. Growing up on a horse farm with barns, space, and lots of mice we had many hang out on the property over the years. It was always fun laying in bed during the summer with the windows open and hearing them talk to each other. That and being out checking animals at night and seeing them fly over without a sound.

Hummer, any update?

Poor quality photo but its the best I got. Nice to see what I've only heard around my place until now. On the garage.

Yes, good news. I looked out the window several times and saw that the owl was alert and looking around. By 1 a.m., it had flown off. He or she, I didn't take the time to measure and sex the bird.

After I checked the wings to see they moved okay I wanted to get it outside as soon as possible. I held the shoulders/wings with one hand and quickly took a photo with the phone. Then photoshopped the picture to reduce the file size for posting.

This bird was probably hunting mice outside the front doors where we put seed and corn out for the birds. In the past I've seen Saw-whet and Pygmy-owls bump windows when catching moths that were attracted to the lighted windows.

I'm confident this Long-eared Owl recovered well. In the Grand Junction area Long-eared Owls use deciduous woods and dry washes where Russian Olive and Tamarisk dominate.

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Originally Posted by ChickNorris

Poor quality photo but its the best I got. Nice to see what I've only heard around my place until now. On the garage.

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Looking for Peekinese and free roaming cats....

When Great Horned Owls land on our metal roof they stomp around looking for rabbits and the occasional Mexican Woodrat.

Kind of a personal story for me, but when I went down to my grandfather's house in florida, to say good bye, and spread his ashes in the bay, there was an owl on the roof, similar to what Chick posted.

I think his owl, was plastic, to scare away predictors.

But to this date, I am sure my grandfather was that owl.

That is good news, Hummer...

Great to hear hummer!

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Originally Posted by arbol

Kind of a personal story for me, but when I went down to my grandfather's house in florida, to say good bye, and spread his ashes in the bay, there was an owl on the roof, similar to what Chick posted.

I think his owl, was plastic, to scare away predictors.

But to this date, I am sure my grandfather was that owl.

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I remember many times that people have told me of loved ones who passed and their encounter, sometimes before, sometimes after, of the appearance of an animal they believe to be a totem, a form of reincarnation of their loved one.

The totem characters have been favored pets, stags, bears, hummingbirds, robins, owls and eagles. . I don't discount any of them.

What will my totem be?

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Originally Posted by Hummer

What will my totem be?

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I am thinking a hummingbird - but, a very rare or thought to be extinct one.

[Coffee]