My family first moved to Exeter
in 2002. Our first home was right on the
edge of the Swasey-Henderson Town Forest with direct access just outside our
door. We jumped at the opportunity to
explore the forest as often as possible.
It was a playground for instilling a sense of discovery and adventure
into our then elementary-aged daughter. Our
efforts were well rewarded with sightings of beaver, birds, fisher cats and all
sorts of rodents. One memorable
highlight was wing-patterns in the snow, ending in a divot covered in bits of fur. This was evidence, we think, of an owl’s
successful hunt the night before.
My friends John and Andrea were
both born and raised in Exeter. They’ve
deepened their roots by raising their own family here. For the past decade Sean and I have walked
the Swasey-Henderson Town Forest hundreds of times with John and Andrea and
many other friends. We occasionally spy a
Barred Owl on these walks, with more regular sightings in 2016. There is no saying for sure it’s the same individual
we see or if there is more than one but the owl makes itself surprisingly
visible at times. There has also been a
Great Horned Owl in the vicinity, possibly more than one.
There are approximately twenty
species of owls breeding in North America.
Of these, there have been twelve recorded in New England. So far, I have seen or heard three species in
and around Exeter. With over 2300 acres
of open space around town there is plenty of habitat types to support a few more
owl species. If you zoom out beyond
Exeter’s boundaries, there are far more forested, field and wetland habitats that
many avian species, including owls, can easily access.
Barred Owls are territorial and
non-migratory. Their territory can be
anywhere from 200-900 acres! That is 0.75-1.5
square miles they will defend especially aggressively during nesting season,
which is wraps up pretty soon. They are monogamous,
forming permanent pair bonds. Courting
begins in winter, usually February but can be earlier, near the nest site using
much of the same awkward-looking techniques that us humans will use. There is hooting, screeching, chasing,
swaying, sidling and raising-of-wings involved.
An established pair will engage in mutual feeding and preening,
too. Sound familiar? Maybe our Barred Owl is raising a few chicks
this season, although I have not seen sign of it since last November.
A known predator of the Barred
Owl is the Great Horned Owl. This might
explain why both species have been seen in the same woods. The Great Horned Owl requires anywhere from 0.1
– 1 square mile of territory, the actual size depending on nesting density and
food supply. Hmm, let’s think about
this. The smaller Barred Owl requires a
larger territory than his bigger cousin, the Great Horned Owl? That seems kind of backwards. I certainly have more to learn about this
territory stuff.
While the Barred Owl’s
preferred habitat is deep, swampy mixed-woods forests near waterways, the Great
Horned Owl is opportunistic in habitat choices.
It has been as successful in a New England forest as it has been in the
desert.
I remember the first time I
ever saw an owl in flight. It was
magical! At dusk over an open field on
Plum Island in Massachusetts a Great Horned Owl glided against a backdrop of
grayish-pink sky and silhouetted trees.
I knew immediately it was an owl and not any other large bird of prey
because of the flat face. You can’t miss
that identifying feature. The size of
the bird and the surrounding habitat gave away its identity. The glide was beautiful. Low to the ground, nearly at eye level, it
was most likely hunting. So effortless
yet very purposeful. An owl’s wings are
designed for silent flight. The broad
shape provides a large surface area that allows them to float rather than
flap. The leading edges of the primary
feathers have a combed or serrated surface that shifts the flow of air,
lowering the decibel level to near silence.
Amazing evolutionary advantage!
Great Horned and Barred owls
share a similar diet: anything from small rodents and insects to amphibians and
reptiles. Both will take down small
birds but the larger Great Horned Owl is known to take down animals larger than
itself, such as Red-tailed hawks and young foxes. It has even been known to wade into water for
a meal! Of course, as was already
mentioned, the Great Horned will readily make a meal of the Barred Owl,
too. Definitely an opportunistic feeder.
A third species, the Screech
Owl, is also part of the Exeter community.
I live within a mile of downtown and on two occasions (but as many as
six years apart), a Screech Owl perched itself in a fir tree across the street
from my house and whinnied the evening away.
Among the smallest of owl species, I was not able to see it on either
occasion, unfortunately, but its unmistakable call was clear. Soft, distinctive and even a little eerie, it
can be quite unsettling if you don’t know the source from where it
comes. I heard it again just two nights
ago in the middle of the night!
One clue to finding an owl is a
behavior called "mobbing".
When a predatory bird is in the area prey birds will become agitated and
collectively harass the predator as a means of driving it away. This behavior is quite loud
and very visible. The mobbing might take
place in flight, but sometimes the predator will try to outlast his agitators
by staying put on a branch. Either way,
the agitated prey birds will easily lead your eyes to the predator. Any prey bird will use this tactic to protect
their eggs or chicks but, typically, crows will mob hawks and owls; in turn, Blue
jays and smaller birds will mob crows, as crows are notorious egg and chick
stealers. Surprisingly, even the
smallest of birds will go after a large bird of prey to protect its young.
Next time you head out for a
walk in the woods or a walk around your neighborhood, pay attention to the
sounds. Look up and scan the tree-tops now
and again. Slow to a crawl, stand and
listen….turn around in the spot where you stand. You just might see a pair of large, round
eyes staring right back at you!
If you have had any owl
sightings near your home I would love to hear about it. Please feel free to leave a comment below.
Onward,
Sandy
Sandy
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