Owls

Joe Meche is president of the North Cascades Audubon Society and also serves the chapter as newsletter editor and birding programs coordinator. He has been watching birds for more than 50 years and photographing birds and landscapes for more than 30 years. He has written more than 100 articles for Whatcom Watch.

by Joe Meche

As we entered the new year, newspapers and birding list serves across western Washington and the lower mainland of British Columbia were alive with news of owls. In this particular case, it wasn’t just any owl but one of the big stars in the world of owls – the snowy owl. The continuing news of snowy owls in our corner of the world, as well as other places across the northern tier states indicates that we are in the middle of an irruption year for these magnificent Arctic denizens. Further proof comes from sightings as far south as Kansas and Oklahoma.

Irruptions differ considerably from normal migratory patterns. As a general rule, most bird migrations are as dependable as clockwork with the changing of seasons, while irruptions are large and irregular movements of birds into areas well out of their normal ranges. Shortages of food or harsh conditions on traditional wintering grounds are factors that contribute to irruptions. As demanding as this might be on the birds, birdwatchers revel in the unexpected opportunity to see northern species that aren’t normally within viewing range for most of us.

Daytime Concealment

While snowy owls highlight a birder’s day, any owl is a highlight for me. Whenever the inevitable questions come up about favorite birds, owls are always among my favorites. The fact that most are nocturnal and often difficult to find makes the discovery of one a special treat. Most owls are masters of concealment during the day. They often seek cavities or tucked-away nooks and perches to rest during the day, and the colors and patterns of their plumage allow them to blend quite well with their surroundings.

Humans have long been fascinated with owls and some contend that the forward facing eyes are a big part of the appeal. Owls have been respected and revered, but they’ve also been feared and even hated by some. Owls have been symbols of wisdom and prophecy but also of tragedy and death. No other bird has been the subject of as many representations in various media as the owl. Folklore is rich with tales of owls, which are similar in many ways to cats, since both are exceptionally powerful and efficient predators in the natural world.

Nighttime Silence

Both move about silently and with their keen hearing and night vision are able to locate prey in almost total darkness. They both possess formidable weapons with their sharp talons and claws; and when it comes to courtship behavior, no other members of the animal kingdom make as much noise during the quiet of night as cats and owls. Of course, one significant difference between the two stands out – the ability to fly.

In addition to the evolutionary bonus of flight, night-hunting owl species are equipped with extraordinary adaptations that allow for silent flight. Barbs on the edges of the primary feathers let air flow through and the soft feather surfaces reduce noise. It’s been said that a noisy owl would starve to death. But with their night vision, excellent hearing, and noiseless flight, there’s little chance of that happening. Owls are quite simply marvelous creatures.

Local Owls

While we are fortunate to see snowy owls every now and then, keep in mind that Whatcom County is the year-round home to several owl species and subject to occasional visits by at least four northern species. The variety of habitat throughout the county is perfect for owls, from the forested foothills and open meadows to the marine shorelines. The possibility of finding owls locally is very high.

Barn owls are the most distinctive and easily recognized of all owl species. They are found around the world and are the most widespread owl species. They are nocturnal and usually become active around dusk. They prefer open country and feed mainly on rodents and other small vertebrates that they find in open grasslands and along woodland edges. Barn owls couldn’t ask for a better place to call home than Whatcom County. The numerous barns and surrounding open areas, especially in the north and east county, are perfect for this owl.

One of the most enjoyable birds to watch on the wing is the short-eared owl. Its tumbling, often bouncing flight is a joy to observe and challenging to photograph. They are often active during the daytime and easy to distinguish by their unique flying style. When hunting, they tend to fly just above the ground and practically fall upon their prey in an acrobatic, twisting and diving motion. One of the best places to see short-ears in the county is the Lummi Flats, where they can be seen in competition with northern harriers. When rodent populations soar, you can expect to see good numbers of short-ears as well.

Considered by many to be the fiercest predator in the bird world, the great horned owl has earned its reputation. No prey is safe from a hungry great horned owl since its choice of food ranges from small birds and mammals to great blue herons and even domestic pets. It gets its name from the distinctive ear tufts that create the illusion of horns. The great horned is one of the most adaptable of all owls, making their homes in a variety of natural and manmade structures. They prefer open areas for hunting but are equally at home in woodlands. Reliable places to find great horned owls are in Whatcom Falls Park near the Bayview cemetery, on the hillsides around Lake Padden, and in the forested uplands at Lake Terrell.

Downtown Owls

It seems that barred owls are becoming more numerous every year. They’re showing up in a variety of locations around the county and even in downtown Bellingham. The highlights of spring/summer birding last year were the nesting pairs of barred owls in Whatcom Falls Park. One nesting tree in particular had numerous visitors, including local school groups. The nesting hole with three owlets was 75 feet above the ground so the owls never felt threatened by their human admirers.

My friend, Doug, and I kept track of the adults and the owlets well into the summer and experienced several up-close and personal encounters with the young owls. The last encounter for me was when the owlets were just about six months old. We continue to find more owls all along Whatcom Creek and downstream to the waterfront.

Other local owls that can be found in a number of habitats are western screech, northern pygmy, and saw-whet owls. These smaller owls always need to be on guard for the larger owls which see them as prey. The northern saw-whet owl’s penchant for cavity nesting sometimes leads them to perfect manmade places to nest….wood duck boxes. It’s quite normal for our friend, Tricia Otto, to find saw-whets in her boxes at the Agate Pond Preserve.

Rarer Visitors

Long-eared and spotted owls are seen on rare occasions in the county. A couple of years ago, a long-eared showed up on a snowy day on Whatcom Creek behind Construction Supply. It was only after the owl and the snow had come and gone that I found out it was here. The spotted owl is an icon of conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Clear-cut logging has severely depleted their traditional habitats of old growth forests and pressure from the increasing number of barred owls has had an adverse impact on their dwindling numbers.

Boreal, great gray, and northern hawk owls make up the cast of northern owls that only rarely visit the county. The consensus always has been that these and other seldom seen species are more than likely out there in selected habitats, but they go by unobserved. A few years ago, I experienced a special treat of spending two memorable days in the company of a great gray owl, in an open meadow southeast of Sumas. He perched and preened and made occasional forays to nab a vole or a field mouse. It was just the two of us and he tolerated my presence admirably.

Owls are intriguing characters and the subject of numerous publications because of their distinctiveness in the world of birds. When you’re just out for a walk or birding here and there, be sure to keep an eye out for owls. The excitement you will feel upon discovering an owl will be memorable, to say the least.