Relaxed Owl

It must be a good neighborhood; the barred owls returned and are nesting in the nearby tree cavity. This is the third spring for them here.

Two days ago, we did some tree trimming which was mostly aimed at improving the visibility of the owl tree from our living room. Last year it had been greatly obscured once the leaves came out. One of the owls was sunning in a pine tree at the edge of our neighbor's yard, quite disinterested in us even though we were working not twelve feet away from the nest tree. Eventually, as we cut the big pieces we had lopped off into little ones, the owl flew to the edge of the nest cavity, facing inward. It remained there for a couple of minutes, once sticking its head deep inside, and then it entered. It was a privilege to watch, and reassuring that we terrestrial creatures (too big for prey) were no cause any concern.

I have no pictures from that day, but the next day an owl was sunning and dozing in the pine tree again. It is a superior roost because it is close to the nest tree, so any threat could be driven away. Also, the pine provides sufficient cover that the crows and blue jays who insist on pestering and harassing the owl can't reach it.

At first, the owl would not face me.

Once, when I stepped on a stick, the owl checked out the noise for about ten seconds.

But mostly it was lightly dozing, calmly providing security for the nest tree.

We hope we are fortunate enough to have sightings of the hatchlings this year.