Wildlife & Related

[Hummer]

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.

[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.

[Hummer]

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.

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?

[BladesNBarrels]

What will my totem be?

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

[Hummer]

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

I was imagining a hummingbird that can morph onto a miniature falcon. Or maybe a Pygmy-owl. But my personality might align better with the gentle spirited Saw-whet Owl. All favorite predators anyway, including the hummingbird.

What would your totem be?

[Hummer]

Here's a couple photos of the more than 120 mule deer I spotted in Rio Blanco County today, three older bucks were among them but no awesome senior citizens yet.

[Bailey Guns]

That is good news, Hummer...

[Doc45]

Great to hear hummer!

[arbol]

Dude look pretty Buck'ish.

[Hummer]

Dude look pretty Buck'ish.

Yes, and he's in the rut chasing does. It's a great time to hunt deer (and the first time I've ever hunted the mule deer rut). This fellow's head accentuates the very big body but the antlers, while high, lack basal mass and width. In the past three days I've seen a few bucks with wider antlers but probably not bigger bodied. I expect I'll be very lucky to find one much better. The very severe drought in western CO this year reduced food quantity and nutrients needed for antler growth. While October brought more rain which will help with winter forage it's too late to influence antler growth.

So far, November has been dry which will likely continue through the month.