The weather has taken so many turns in so many directions over the last few weeks, as though autumn was upon us, just gently teasing (or shocking us) with its extreme dips and climbs. The leaves are glowing with brilliant hues and the collies and horses are getting really fuzzy in anticipation of the unpredictable winter to come. It is absolutely beautiful here in the wake of autumn!
Fall colours glow brilliantly across the ranch yards.
The ladies hiking group thoroughly enjoyed their jaunt from the Riley Dam to Little Big Bar Lake. They were fascinated with the abundance of colour and wildlife.
Wanna, Claudia and I decided to take a riding break and enjoy the fall colours for ourselves! Is is so warm and dry now that we can't believe that there was actually snow briefly on ground for a few hours last week. Even the evenings are warm which makes for a beautiful late night stroll!
It has been a long time mystery to me as I sit outside my door late at night here and Echo Valley, in order to take in the silence, the fresh air, the stars that shine and dance like fireflies … depending on the occasion … why I just can’t figure out what birds I am listening to. After some research I am convinced that they are some kind of owl, a screech owl I am assuming, but at this point I have no visual or aural proof.
As I continued my research I was frustrated one night as they decided to take a break from their regular “screech fest” , an event that happened outside my door at about 10pm every evening.
Claudia has reminded me that we would perhaps be able to see them now that the moon is full – but now they are gone! Maybe that’s why. They are nocturnal. And boy was this moon especially bright!
Full moon outside my door - the photo just does not do this incredible night justice!
Well at last they are back! Having absolutely no knowledge of bird life – save the few times I helped out my friends with their eagles and falcons; my buddy ‘Nick’ the old Macaw at the “Animal Barn” feed store that I used to work at in Pemberton near Whistler; and of course the abundance of bird life that resides here at the ranch; I can not guarantee what species of owl we are referring to here. But one thing that I do know for certain is that they are here! Again. And maybe again every night at approximately 10pm until further notice.
The glorious tree that houses starlings by day, and owls by night. You can see the musical starlings lined up to catch a glimpse of the happenings around the ranch.
After speaking with Brian and Dorothy, our resident bird specialists, I am informed that they are most likely Barred Owls. As it is dark, and I don’t have a spot light, I have no way of capturing an image. So for now I have to just imagine (as many guests over the last few weeks have also done) what they look like and wonder why they are showing up at the same time every night, sending an echoing screech at each other like they are in search of something lost, or something that we can’t see, or something that they may just be able to capture if I were not so obnoxiously in their way.
They seem to perch themselves on the same tree, the same limb, and cry out in a carefully timed manner in hopes that something soon may happen.
Well I was enthralled by this ritual, and completely confused when it halted for a brief few days, seemingly around a time of extreme weather change i.e. snow, wind and rain.
Well now the wind, rain and snow (which was extremely brief) is gone and a beautiful Indian Summer has come upon us! And they’re Back! They are back to make me inquisitive again, curious and excited!
So this spawned much more research, primarily by way of audio clips, and I have finally determined that these owls are not screech-owls (as much as they sound like they should be called just that), or barred owls, they are simply Barn owls.
I have to say that I was especially convinced that I had the right species when I read that “their most memorable call is a blood-curdling scream”, and that they “tolerate human company well” as I would talk and ’squawk’ at them to see what kind of response I might get.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
There are dozens of members of the barn owl family in the world, but only one in North America. In Canada it is restricted to extreme southern Ontario, and in British Columbia it is found on southern Vancouver Island and in the Fraser Valley on the BC mainland.
Barn Owls are fascinating predators. They are almost strictly nocturnal, and enjoy extremely good vision. More remarkable, though is their hearing.
With ears placed asymmetrically in their skulls, they are able to pinpoint the location of the faintest sounds. Tests have shown that Barn Owls are able to pounce on prey in absolute darkness.
In British Columbia, these efficient hunters eat primarily Townsend’s Voles (Microtus townsendii), with a few other items for variety. Historically, they nested in broken treetops, and on ledges and cliffs. In Europe and North America, though, they now nest almost exclusively in human structures.
Normally six or seven white eggs are laid, at two-day intervals. Incubation of about 32 days begins as soon as the first is laid, so the first to hatch may be two weeks old when the last hatches. In a good year, all will survive, but if prey is scarce, only the biggest and strongest will get enough food. The young fledge in about 60 days, but are still dependent on the adults.
Barn Owls do not say “hoo-hoo”. Their most memorable call is a blood-curdling scream. A loud hiss is given as a warning call, and a chattering like castanets seems to be a territorial call.
Barn Owls take readily to nest boxes and platforms. All they need is a safe place for their young, and suitable habitat for hunting. They tolerate human company well, and are fascinating to watch as they go about their lives.
(Birds of B.C. – Barn owl. vancouverisland.com)
for more information on the common barn owl:
http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Tyto&species=alba
Well I am happy that I solved this little puzzle! If only I could capture them on film!
... way to beautiful of a bird to be called simply "common barn owl".
I may not get a chance to see these mysterious owls that I listen to every night (unless we are lucky enough to have photographers here with special lighting), but at least I now know what I am listening to and am proud that they have chosen this beautiful space to call their home.
