Barred Owl - Should I worry?

[Frazzemrat1]

Did you ever talk to anybody from a falconry club about her?

 

[schatze]

Did you ever talk to anybody from a falconry club about her?

Yes. He said overall to not acknowledge her nor even to refer to her by a name. He said it could be dangerous for her in the event she finds people who aren't friendly and will try to hurt her. I still talk to her, though. She's like 3-4ft from me, it's weird for me to not acknowledge any being that close to me.

No one has reported a missing owl within at least 250miles of me.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Yes. He said overall to not acknowledge her nor even to refer to her by a name. He said it could be dangerous for her in the event she finds people who aren't friendly and will try to hurt her. I still talk to her, though. She's like 3-4ft from me, it's weird for me to not acknowledge any being that close to me.

No one has reported a missing owl within at least 250miles of me.

I agree with his take. And I understand what your saying. I think its beautiful that she's decided to share space with you. Just don't start feeding her. If she gets that familiar with people, she may lose her hunting skills.

 

[schatze]

As I've stated numerous times in here, I have no desire to feed her, she seems to do pretty well in her own in that regard.

Of all the falconers I've spoken with, roughly seven at this point, none of them have experience with a case like this, and one of them is a Master Falconer with over 50yrs of experience. From my standpoint and lifelong relationship with various animals, I think Celeste not attacking my flock is due to the fact I acknowledge her and talk to her, and she likes that. Other raptors who come through, and there are many--hawks, owls, etc., I acknowledge them too, but they kill my birds. However her personality may be, she simply seems to enjoy it. It's not for every animal by far, but she seems overall content with how things are in the little open sanctuary of my yard.

 

[schatze]

Here are some pictures from earlier today when I was giving the chickens and ducks their afternoon treats.

She comes down to the lowest branch, her new favorite perch, and waits for me if she happens to be feeling sociable. I think she just likes feeling safe. Down where we are, she knows she's safe and can sleep in peace without even the doves bothering her--there's only one dove the chickens seem to tolerate, the rest get chased off. Whatever it is, she seems to have made a home here (every day for over two months) and is doing well on her own. Like a stray cat choosing a house to live then getting in good with the family inside, she's seemingly chosen my yard and the bounty the trees behold.

I do think she has an understanding that the chickens and ducks are "family" and hasn't bothered them because of it. My youngest roo was just a little nugget of a guy when she first appeared and could have been picked off easily, but even he roams about freely on his own now while she watches over everyone.

When the leaves start falling off the trees, I'm not sure what she'll do or where she'll go. There is a hollow in one of my oak trees, but I think a squirrel might live in there. There's also a hawk couple that nests next door every year, and inevitably kills at least two of my birds. I'd rather have Celeste than those hawks. I know she's considerably bigger than they are (one tried attacking her weeks ago, and she just stood there and looked at it until it flew away).

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Depending on where you live you may can get the US Fish & Wildlife Service to come out and kill the Barred Owl for you.

It has now been proven that logging wasn't what was killing off the Northern Spotted Owl, they were crossing or hybridising with Barred Owls thus creating a fertile hybrid species instead.

This is an opportunity that no government agency can pass up. So the USFWS got money from Congress to go out and kill barred owls to help what is in reality a subspecies of owl. Only in America folks.

 

[schatze]

No. I don't want her killed by any means.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

No. I don't want her killed by any means.

But don't you want to help the poor endangered Northern Spotted Owl ?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Here is a link to the government killing of one species (the Barred Owl) in order to protect what in reality is the same species of owl (the Northern Spotted Owl)

http://www.cfact.org/2014/08/25/u-s-government-releases-predators-against-its-own-people/

 

[twilightgecko]

kill her? she hasn't shown any threat to the flock or owner.. simply a guardian that has made a connection with the land owner.. i would feel blessed..