Chirps and Cheeps

My son, Tom, is an avid hiker and is often out in all kinds of weather hiking the different parks and preserves of Western New York. In the late afternoon the other day, he came home and told me to grab my camera and to come with him to see a pair of Barred Owls. Not one to argue, I did as told!

After the drive, we had a lonnngggg and difficult hike ahead of us (at least for me - the one without snowshoes!). Arduously traversing over the icy trails, melting creeks, and deep snow - 2 feet in some spots - we finally arrived at the spot where Tom had seen the owls.  We found them nearby sitting tightly together in an evergreen. I was thrilled as this was my only daytime sighting of a Barred Owl to date. The pair separated when they saw us, one taking off to a nearby tree. Then they blew us away by calling to one another with a very deep, "Who cooks for you". I'm not sure which was better - the sights or the sounds - but both together made for an unforgettable experience.

These two owls were obviously a mated pair and will be nesting near where we found them. After taking a few photos, we left them in peace and we wish them a successful brood!

Did you know the Barred Owl is one of the few species of owls that has brown eyes and not yellow?