[Tweeters] (Continued)-Re: Eastern Screech Owl heard near Chism Park, Bellevue - is this even possible?!?

[Emily Winstrom]

Hi Dan, thanks for all your help and great information.    I also want to
thank Mark Salvadalena who sent me from All About Birds the sounds of both
Eastern Screech-Owl and Barred Owl.   The Barred Owl call recorded in New
York in June 1999 is just what we heard.   As you write, Mark, owls have
all kinds of calls and songs and sounds.   That descending call of the
Barred Owl is to me at least quite similar to the Eastern Screech-Owl, but
when I compare calls of each species I can hear the differences.   It's
great to have this bird call identified -- and it makes sense!!!     I've
learned from the experience that it's so great to reach out to the Tweeters
community for help, and that All About Birds is a terrific resource.   Next
time I'll head there, and be patient to try to find some answers.

      Warm regards, Emily Winstrom

On Fri, Oct 8, 2021 at 12:21 AM Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com> wrote:


> Emily,

> (Continued)

> Also, in my experience, of all the owls I film, sound record or observe,

> saw-whets are the most likely to make interesting and varied sounds and

> vocally react in recognition of larger owls nearby.

>

> For example, if a migrating saw-whet stopped at your woods and became

> aware of a Barred or Great Horned owl, you would hear them make one or

> several interesting, and not often heard sounds.

>

> I have heard them do this with Barred (most frequent), Boreal, Great

> Horned, Long-eared and Spotted owls.

>

> They will also sometimes vocalize when a conspecific is nearby.

>

> On all occasions, I was not aware of the larger owl being present until

> after the saw-whet began vocalizing.

>

> They will also often make sounds when they are aware of an unexpected

> person nearby.

>

> Recently, I was in the central Cascades and had been listening and sound

> recording owls for much of the night.

>

> I pulled off of the road to stretch my legs before the long drive home. I

> had never previously stopped there. As soon as I had opened the car door,

> even before I stepped out, a saw-whet began vocalizing and did so for 15

> minutes.

>

> I made no sounds at all and just listened. Totally unexpected.

> The little owl later flew across the road as I heard a female Great Horned

> owl in the distance call once, perhaps reacting to hearing the smaller owl.

>

> I have spent hundreds of hours filming and sound recording owls- and I

> enjoy them all-and of all species, I most enjoy the wide variety of very

> neat vocalizations of saw-whets.

>

> Thanks for your report, Emily.

> Dan Reiff

>

> Sent from my iPhone

>

> > On Oct 7, 2021, at 11:08 PM, Dan Reiff <Dan.Owl.Reiff at gmail.com> wrote:

> >

> > Hello Emily,

> > Northern Saw-whet owls have a wide variety of calls.

> > Probably the most likely of the options for what you heard.

> > And they are in migration now.

> >

> > All though several species of owls can make some unexpected calls.

> > Dan Reiff

> > MI

> >

> > Sent from my iPhone

> >

> >> On Oct 7, 2021, at 10:12 PM, Emily Winstrom <emily.winstrom at gmail.com>

> wrote:

> >>

> >> 

> >> We live a mile up from Chism Park in Bellevue, WA.   Chism Park is on

> Lake Washington, and there are many large Douglas Firs and Cedars in our

> surrounding neighborhood.  Barred Owls frequent Chism park vicinity as well

> as Great Horned Owls.    This evening, about 8:30, we heard a strange call

> from our backyard area - where there are many large Doug Firs and Cedars as

> well as native plant "wild" areas between houses.   We opened our back

> sliding door, and very close by heard what seems like a pretty bizarre owl

> call.   I'm not kidding - it sounded like the Eastern Screech Owls we have

> heard many times over the years when we visit Sanibel Island in Florida.

> On Sanibel Island there are Eastern Screech Owls in abundance.   The call

> we heard this evening starts with a higher pitch, descends smoothly in

> pitch, closing with a whinny sound.   I don't know anything about calls

> made by Great Horned Owls or Barred Owls that could sound something like

> this.   I know these species have a wide variety of calls and sounds they

> use.   I wish I had had Merlin with Sound Identification all ready to go,

> but I haven't got that set up yet.     I think my best recourse is to share

> with the Tweeter expert community and get your take on this.   What birds

> around here could make a sound that sounds just like the Eastern Screech

> Owl?  That pretty much sums up this mysterious sound we heard tonight.

> Thanks for your help!!!

> >>

> >>      From Emily Winstrom, Bellevue, WA

> >> _______________________________________________

> >> Tweeters mailing list

> >> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

> >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>

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