Great-horned Owl fun in 2017

[centrarchid]

Young birds were again released and allowed to go to roost per their own choice. None used locations from night before and only one roosted up. All but two went back to large pens I left doors open. Even in pens they were roosting in tight locations rather than on roosting pole. If this were to occur in pasture they would be roosting in high weeds where fox could get them. Fox seems to follow owl in previous years.

Cameras left in place to see if I can get a good set of images. Owl will likely coming in whether chickens are accessible or not.

 

[centrarchid]

I am going out every 30 minutes or so to shine light on barn. If owl where present then chickens will give a particular cackle when they see it. No cackling so far tonight. Owl does keep a tight schedule even when a food supply is in a predictable location all night long. At least one owl was a couple hundred yards to east in woods around 1600 getting mobbed by murder of American Crows.

 

[centrarchid]

Owl did not come back in last night based on two well positioned cameras taking pictures every 15 seconds. Mice activity did get underway until about the same time the owl comes in. Route owl may be timed based on activities of the mice.

 

[PatriciafromCO]

mamma GHO brough her new baby. They are ok to hunt on the other side of the property where the horse barn and lean too is. The little baby was so darn cute..

 

[centrarchid]

Owl came in this evening and killed a juvenile female game chicken. It was obvious something was up by way birds safely penned were holding tails and that all but three where safely on roost in pens. Chicken taken was the smallest of all I have currently weighing less than 2 lbs. Head and neck eaten on kill site.

Two game cameras where setup to crossfire over carcass that was placed in a pen so owl has to reach through wire to feed. Pen dainty enough owl can tip it if tries hard. Tonight trying to get positive ID on species. Odds are that it is Great-horned Owl.

Owl has been coming into barn late at night well after I policed up loose birds. Tonight and last much colder so owl appears to have come in earlier than usual.

I will feed owl if need be to get so quality images of chickens reactions to it can be recorded. People need to see and hear the very particular response chickens have to owl pressure.

The deer netting will be used to block off entrances to barn.

 

[centrarchid]

Owl back in area. Dogs going nuts. Owl will not go into barn until dogs settle down. Owl has to get into barn without stirring up chickens which it can do if they can not see it. I shine barn with spotlight from house so chickens see it and make alarms, then dogs get riled and owl leaves. Spotlight is crapping out at 2 years old with nightly use.

 

[centrarchid]

I shined a very large owl in barn moments ago. Looked like an Eagle Owl was so big so must be female Great-horned Owl. Same-o same-o.

 

[centrarchid]

Great-horned Owl (GHO) dragging chicken, cage and bowl weighted with feed.

Just before camera tipped over by owl.

Rest of night.

 

[centrarchid]

Emphasis tonight will be recording chicken behaviors in response to GHO visits. Even though owl cannot get to chickens, the latter will get upset if they know former is present. A night light will be set up so chickens can see owl. Dogs will then have to be penned so they do not interfere.

Relative extreme cold is causing chickens to bunch up in different locations so I will have to rush camera placement immediately after they go to roost. Owl appears to have come in last night immediately after dark. It visited at least three times last night with dogs flushing it first time, me second, and it getting its fill causing last departure.

 

[centrarchid]

Cameras deployed and armed. One on chicken carcass that has been moved about 15 to a location i think the owl can find. Another is on chickens in pen about 20 feet from carcass. Owl already in tree south of barn getting cocks penned in cockyard riled up to make the owl specific cackle alarm. Both dogs had to be taken inside as Ben could see owl and was making his high pitched treeing bark. Female dog visually impaired but very much tuned to chicken alarm calls.

Likely to be no sound recording tonight, at least not at first.