This is the first winter in which I have led walks at Downsview Park. Today was my 6th and final winter walk here. During each of the first 5 walks, we spotted at least one owl and sometimes more. Here are some of them:
I was beginning to think that no owl would appear today as we carefully inspected every clump of coniferous trees in which I had previously observed an owl. No luck – no luck – no luck, until finally we found a Long-eared Owl almost entirely hidden from view. Here it is:
Other birds:
Today’s group:
The American Tree Sparrow has a very high pitched song which has been compared to that of a Song Sparrow up an octave or characterized as “fairy music.”
NATURE POETRY
Of speckled eggs the birdie sings
And nests among the trees;
The sailor sings of ropes and things
In ships upon the seas. Robert Louis Stevenson
Miles Hearn
Yeah, the poor things may be hiding now, because of all the harassment you described. I hope they don’t give up on the area entirely, that would be a shame. I guess people who got to see them in plain sight this winter were lucky!
Thx. Miles – great pictures. Very Large signs at the Leslie Street Spit are now visible for all walkers to see warning us to keep our distance and noting that WIDE-eyed owls are stressed owls. As so many of these photos show wide-eyed owls I wonder if you concur? The signs are excellent teaching tools.
I did not see any such signs at Downsview on 6 Feb. but I did see many people crowded around the trees where the owls were resting in the afternoon. At that time people were keeping their distance – mostly respectful photographers.
Thoughts?