12 Long Years for Long-eared (Flashback)

Flashback winter 2014 Tucson Bird Count.

Long-Eared Owl (photos property of Paul Suchanek)

The birds were active this Sunday morning after a light rain the day before.  Any rain is good rain in the desert, where conservation is survival, at least for the plants and wildlife.  Paul Suchanek joined me for a day of counting birds for the Tucson Bird Count, a citizen science project now run by the Tucson Audubon Society.   Our first stop was the big lake, where Paul rattled off 23 species in the five minute time period as I stood and scribbled names and numbers.  Even for this diverse water habitat 23 species is one of the highest counts.   

Our next count area was the nearby mesquite bosque.   This would be ten minute count in which we would walk through the mesquites and count birds seen and heard.   As we waited to start the clock I mentioned to Paul that there was one bird which had eluded me in this transect in the twelve years I'd been surveying this "park."   It was the mysterious Long-eared Owl.  In fact, I created this transect with this bird in mind, since I had seen it in years past in these very mesquites.  That was twelve years ago.   Over the years it would be seen off and on sporadically, sometimes skipping a year, but never during a survey.   I would call it a nemesis, but our relationship was not of hunter and prey, or as competitors.  Our meetings were a gift to behold whenever seen, and part of the uniqueness was its unpredictability.   It was always a pleasant, unexpected surprise.

Our walk was rewarding as a Ruby-crowned Kinglet called, and 3 Western Bluebirds flew overhead.   An Ash-throated Flycatcher, rare in winter, called out with a pop-like call note.  We had some interesting birds for this section.   I calmed my usual anticipation as we neared the area where the owl had been seen in past years.  I knew its various perches, but this time wanted to clear my mind of expectations.  "You need to look with fresh eyes," I thought, "As if it's your first time here."   

Long-Eared Owl (photos property of Paul Suchanek)

With this in mind I scanned the vegetation to the right of the trail, where it had never been seen.   My eyes came upon a vine tangle, yet it looked too solid.  I brought my bins excitedly to my eyes, then turned to Paul with an excited whisper "It's here!"   We marveled at how camouflaged it appeared, hiding in plain sight.  This owl has a way of stretching its body upward until it looks just like a broken branch pointing upward.  After finishing the transect we came back over to its location on our way to our next point count.   As we slipped by the branches seemed to open up, and we were treated to an unobstructed view of this wonderfully rare friend.  

Long-Eared Owl (photos property of Paul Suchanek)

This long sought addition to our park count list of birds would also be a first for the Tucson Bird Count!  I was so happy to finally experience the awe of this bird's presence during the TBC.   What are some of your special wildlife experiences?   Thank you for appreciating this incredibly diverse planet of uniquely different, yet similar living beings.  

Tips on separating Long-eared Owl from the sometimes similar Great Horned Owl.   The Long-eared Owl had a cross-hatched pattern chest pattern, dark vertical lines going through the eyes, a slimmer build with longer tail (when in camouflaged posture here), long ear tuffs which are set closer together than on Great Horned.  The Great Horned Owl also has a white bib on the throat.   Sometimes the Great Horned can have dark cross hatching on the chest.   The dark line extending vertically through the eye will be your best field mark when in doubt.  

Good Birding!

GBBC and other news

This past week we've added a couple birds to the 2012 yard list.   Today a Ladder-backed Woodpecker was calling from a neighbor's front yard, then came in full view.  Sorry, no pics.   When I was walking Kino last weekend I heard the familiar call of an American Robin, from a Eucalyptus about 30 yards from our house (and clearly would be seen and heard from the house). 

I had a great time counting birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count.  There were many highlights in the yard and neighborhood, and even on Kino's walks.   We tallied about 40 species on one walk alone!   And that's without Kino even trying....really.    We had Western Bluebirds, American Robins, and even a Red-naped Sapsucker.  A Green-tailed Towhee and White-crowned Sparrow cooperated nicely for photos in our back yard, and I managed a plausible shot of an Orange-crowned Warbler at "the TV loop."

The highlight came from a nearby mesquite bosque.  As I entered the mesquites almost immediately I picked out the form of a Long-eared Owl.  

CBC 2011 Count Week

Every year in December I get so excited..not so much for Christmas, but for the Christmas Bird Count. This event occurs around the world, and I am lucky enough to participate in about a four mile by one mile stretch which includes my neighborhood. I take a week off from work to prepare for the count, and to find "count week," birds which are included as supplemental birds if not seen on count day. To be included in this category the bird must be seen within three days of the count, before or after.

The day before the count started I took a gamble on finding one of the most difficult, and most exciting, birds for the count. I had discovered it once before during count week about 8 years earlier, the first time it was recorded for this count "circle,' since its inception over 80 years ago. Even more interesting is the fact that this species is an owl, the Long-eared Owl to be exact. It can hide just by standing erect on a branch, letting its thin shape, tree-bark like plumage, and long ear tufts turn it into a broken off limb from a tree branch. In fact, one may even wonder if thick barked trees could be the descendant of this owl which seems to blend into his surroundings so well. My best hope for finding this master of camouflage would be to hope for habitual behavior on using roosting sites.

As I walked down the narrow path through the mesquite bosque I tried to relax and remove expectations while opening up my perception of the natural world surrounding me. Still, as I neared the bend toward the old roost I turned on my video camera to be ready for anything. His roost would be just right of the trail and within ten feet of it. As I turned the corner my eyes scoured the dead branches of its roost tree and found...nothing.

I was disappointed. I calmed my thoughts and reminded myself that the probability had been slim at best. I then sent a mental thought that I hoped that my friend over the years was at least doing fine, wherever he may be.

Then I turned left and noticed something out of place just above eye level just fifteen feet away. It was him, his slim appearance, facial markings, and vertical notched barring on his chest making it official. My camera slowly raised to my eyes as I documented my excitement on film, if only for a few seconds. Then I moved away and out of sight, silently thanking my friend for showing his presence, and glad to see him doing well after all these years.