Found the last picture of the graduating class 2013. It was stuck in the wrong folder, image that. Stuff like that happens when I am on the computer with no adult supervision. Any way these 4 barred owls (strix varia) are the only Barred owls to go through complete rehab in the new flight pen. They were released around Sept. 1, 2013.
"Ya'll look this way" There is always one in every bunch. These was taken on one of the few sunny days we had in the summer of 2013. Young can see the brown bars on the wings, which gives them the name Barred Owl, but you also see the gray fuzz of a juvenile. So this fall when you hear "who cooks for you" answered by "who cooks for you all" it could be one of these youngsters.
Speaking of fall and days getting shorter, have seen evidence of the migration already. Every year on hwy 18 east, near Elliot's store (McKinley Road) there are 3 American Kestrels that spend the winter. The Kestrel is the smallest Falcon in North America and is frequently mistaken for a dove because of their size. Kestrels sitting on a power line flick their tails rapidly from front to back to help maintain their balance. The first Kestrel has already arrived. There are always 3 on this mile stretch of road every winter. Don't know where they come from but I do know that when the 3rd one arrives winter is close behind. This has been going on for about 10 years and every year it's 3.
Also with fall the owls have started getting very vocal early this year. Owls are not getting ready for Halloween, they could care less about bogey men, instead they are getting ready to mate. Since owls don't build nest they are scouting for cavities and, in the case of the Great Horned Owls, unoccupied Redtail Hawk nest ( that couple is going to be upset when they return and see the mess in their nest). So when the cold blustery days of January arrive female owls will be sitting on eggs. Their goal is to have the babies out before the return migration in spring.
Special thanks to the Clayton and Carol Paul fund for their grant to help us build the new flight pen. After 15 years of searching this was the first grant we found that was available for this type of project. Community Foundation of Central Georgia handled the paperwork. Thanks Julia, Alexis, and the rest of the folks at CFC in Macon.
Thanks to Susan Cropper and E. Rowson of New York City for their donations as we prepare for the fall migration.
Thanks to the Vinson family, the Gres family and the Owens family for their support. All three families live in Ga.
Thanks to Rachel McDaniel and Becky Watts for their expert journalistic coverage.
We don't have all the numbers yet because the year isn't over we don't know how many releases we have until the end of December when we compile the reports for the feds and the state.
Speaking of fall and days getting shorter, have seen evidence of the migration already. Every year on hwy 18 east, near Elliot's store (McKinley Road) there are 3 American Kestrels that spend the winter. The Kestrel is the smallest Falcon in North America and is frequently mistaken for a dove because of their size. Kestrels sitting on a power line flick their tails rapidly from front to back to help maintain their balance. The first Kestrel has already arrived. There are always 3 on this mile stretch of road every winter. Don't know where they come from but I do know that when the 3rd one arrives winter is close behind. This has been going on for about 10 years and every year it's 3.
Also with fall the owls have started getting very vocal early this year. Owls are not getting ready for Halloween, they could care less about bogey men, instead they are getting ready to mate. Since owls don't build nest they are scouting for cavities and, in the case of the Great Horned Owls, unoccupied Redtail Hawk nest ( that couple is going to be upset when they return and see the mess in their nest). So when the cold blustery days of January arrive female owls will be sitting on eggs. Their goal is to have the babies out before the return migration in spring.
Special thanks to the Clayton and Carol Paul fund for their grant to help us build the new flight pen. After 15 years of searching this was the first grant we found that was available for this type of project. Community Foundation of Central Georgia handled the paperwork. Thanks Julia, Alexis, and the rest of the folks at CFC in Macon.
Thanks to Susan Cropper and E. Rowson of New York City for their donations as we prepare for the fall migration.
Thanks to the Vinson family, the Gres family and the Owens family for their support. All three families live in Ga.
Thanks to Rachel McDaniel and Becky Watts for their expert journalistic coverage.
We don't have all the numbers yet because the year isn't over we don't know how many releases we have until the end of December when we compile the reports for the feds and the state.
Thanks for your attention, you can have it back know.
Appreciate your interest in our American Heritage, people are coming from around the world to see our raptors.
God bless.............thank you.
Appreciate your interest in our American Heritage, people are coming from around the world to see our raptors.
God bless.............thank you.