Tag: barn owl

Family of barn owls on the Upper West Side captivates New York City birders

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A family of barn owls has been spotted on the Upper West Side.  Birders are heading uptown after dark to get a look.  The owls have become the talk of the Upper West Side.  “Residents of the surrounding block began hearing loud noises at night, loud raspy screeching noises. And that alerted them there’s something going on,” birder David Barrett said.  Barrett runs the Manhattan Bird Alert account on X. He photographed two adult barn owls, and up to six adolescents.

They’ve nested in the hole of a water tower near 76th Street and Central Park West.  Owls are nocturnal, so birders have been flocking up to the site at night, hoping to catch a glimpse.  “It’s amazing. Five owls. Nobody’s seen five owls before in New York City,” birder Po Mang said.  “It’s a truly special experience … that people can come out to a public space like this and look at these owls at night,” Barrett said.  According to New York City’s Parks Department, barn owls are an extremely rare sight. Experts say it’s the first time barn owls are known to have nested in Manhattan.  “The presence of a nest right in the middle of the country’s biggest city is really exciting,” Jessica Wilson of the New York City Bird Alliance said. 

Wilson said owls eat mice and rats, which exposes them to risk.  “Rats in New York City are often poisoned by rodenticide, meant to kill the rats. But actually what it does is kill the predators that feed on those rats. And if barn owls are eating several rats a day, they are likely to fall prey to this horrible death,” Wilson said.  The young owls have started taking test flights around the water tower at night as the parents hunt for food. For now, that gives New Yorkers one more reason to stop, look up, and be amazed. 

Source: Family of barn owls on the Upper West Side captivates New York City birders – CBS New York

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Galatians 6:1

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5 birds still missing after break-in at Marysville falconry facility

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close up of a majestic great horned owl

A Yuba County falconry said someone broke into the facility and intentionally released nearly a dozen birds from their enclosures on Thursday night. Staff at West Coast Falconry say the incident happened overnight, when someone entered the property, cut off tracking gear attached to the birds and forced them out of their enclosures. The facility said 11 birds were released during the break-in. Most have since been recovered, but five remain missing: an African black eagle, a barn owl, a great horned owl, a peregrine falcon and a dark morph red-tailed hawk.

The African black eagle is described as a large black bird with an estimated six-foot wingspan and white markings on its back. Officials say the birds may resemble native species commonly seen in the area, but stress these animals were bred in captivity and are not capable of surviving on their own. West Coast Falconry said the birds are imprinted on people and may behave differently from wild birds. Authorities, including the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and federal wildlife officials, have been notified and are assisting in the response. Search efforts are ongoing.

Source: 5 birds still missing after break-in at Marysville falconry facility – CBS Sacramento

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
Psalm 73:25

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by Drink of Jesus