Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Search for Owls along I76

February 2, 2008

Prewitt Reservoir (Logan/Washington) and Jackson Reservoir (Morgan) were checked for owls and other birds today. I could not get any owls to respond to my recordings today.

No Long-eared Owls could be located at Jackson Reservoir. It appears that not as many are wintering this year (possibly only 1 or 2). It has been that way ever since they cut the underbrush about 4 years ago.

Late in the afternoon, Rebecca Kosten and I drove over to the Barr Lake area (Adams). We relocated the 50+ Great-tailed Grackles that Don Beltz had reported earlier in the day (Thanks Don!).

The grackles were around the corral area south of the Tree Nursery (at Bromley Lane and Piccadilly Road). Several times they flew over to the trees and driveway of the house directly west of Picadilly Road.

Barr Lake was slow again. When we arrived there were no birds at the feeders. We discovered why when a Sharp-shinned Hawk was found perched on the feeder that looks like a house.

No owls showed along the DIA Owl loop. Only a few Horned Larks flew about.

We had to wonder how much longer owls (Short-eared or Burrowing) will be in the area. 128th Avenue has been extended east to Gun Club Road. There are commercial "for sale" signs posted everywhere along the route. It won't be long before humans flood the area (we need another strip mall, right?).

The highlight was watching a coyote trying to sneak up on the prairie dogs at the Burrowing Owl site along Quency Avenue (96th avenue after it turns north from its eastern route away from Tower Road).

No comments: