Seward, Alaska
I’ve enjoyed hearing two
GREAT HORNED OWLS calling from the forested sloped of the mountains every
evening for the past several weeks. It’s usually when I walk the good dogs
around the block about 11 pm, unless it’s really windy or raining.
Last night was no exception.
Except, they weren’t on the mountainside.
I followed the marvelous
hooting from Monroe St east to Fourth Avenue’s 600 block. I stood on the
sidewalk near a large spruce tree and enjoyed the duet, just smiling, first low
then answered by high with some warbling variations on the basic hoots. I
wanted to share this good news, but no one was about and the houses were dark.
After a few minutes, the
hooting resumed a block south, and we followed. This time, I think they were in
a cottonwood at Fourth and Madison. I stared hard into the leaves but
unfortunately, I could not see them despite the nearby streetlights.
Then I heard them another
block south and followed the music to Third and Jefferson St. There! One owl
flew to the top of a spruce tree. By standing in the middle of the road, I was
able to see the silhouette of the large owl against the lop-sided moon. What a
photo that would have been!
Suddenly, the second owl flew
up; the first raised its wings in protest, and then sailed off, relinquishing
its perch. The second owl balanced precariously a few moments and then it too swooped
away.
Very soon, they began hooting
again and led us down Second Avenue. We followed. As I stood and listened at
the intersection of Adams and Second, an owl flew low right over us and landed
with a scraping sound on the peaked metal roof of the Episcopal Church.
The dogs, who were quite
surprised at actually seeing a large bird so close AT NIGHT, did not care for
this and barked in alarm. The owl just looked at us, a dim, dark mysterious
being. As I throttled the young dog, the other owl flew higher overhead and the
church owl silently joined it, wafting over the nearby apartment building and
back to the mountainside.
We too, turned back to home.
It was a magical walk off our usual route. I wonder if the owls too, enjoyed
their sortie into the center of sleepy Seward, trailed by a happy birder and
two mystified dogs.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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