The barred owl pictured here was just feet from the main path in Explore the Wild. The bird was being harassed by crows, but upon my arrival the corvids retreated leaving the owl in quiet solitude. The owl remained on its perch most of the day looking, as owls often do, peaceful, content, and wise.Read more
Posts tagged: #crow
Ravens!
At about 1 PM today (9/15) I heard what sounded like a raven calling. The sound was distant and I couldn’t pin down a direction. Finally, I looked straight up. There, directly overhead, were two ravens soaring, at times kiting, in the light air far above. Ravens are seen here at the Museum about once per year, usually in fall or winter. I didn’t see one last year, but I do recall hearing one at one point during the past winter. It’s usually theirRead more
Ravens 1, Eagles 0
Still no eagle, but I did see a Common Raven fly over Catch the Wind on Saturday (10/15). The large black bird was quickly flying north while being pursued by two crows, one of the smaller corvids flying above it, the other dive-bombing it from behind! You may be surprised to hear that I’ve seen more eagles fly over the Museum than I have ravens. In the past three years I’ve witnessed 5 Bald Eagles over the Museum’s airspace. I’ve onlyRead more
No-fly Zone
A while back I mentioned that Red-tailed Hawks are not often seen over the Museum’s outdoor areas during the summer months. Its not quite summer yet, but trouble is already brewing for the big red-tails. Crows seem to delight in harassing any hawk or owl they come across, especially during the nesting season when the crows are raising their young. The crows are brazen, but they’re not dumb, and these two gave up their pursuit once the hawk left “their”Read more