Who-Who’s There?

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It wasn’t the signature hoot of a Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, that alerted me to its presence in a neighbor’s big, beautiful Live Oak tree early this morning, but instead, the vociferous complaints of a mob of Blue Jays, Cyanocitta cristata.

I think this gorgeous bird is a juvenile Great Horned Owl, most likely last year’s hatch. It could be an adult, as our neighborhood has sustained at least one pair of nesting Great Horns for years.

Just after I returned from visiting stunning Costa Rica in November, for several weeks each day, I heard a call that I couldn’t identify, even with the Merlin app sound feature. In time, my neighbor (and sister-in-law) discovered that the call is the ‘begging call‘ that young owls use for catching the attention of their adults. Once they’ve left their parents’ tutelage, young owls use that call for a time to let their parents know where they are located in the wider world.

Handsome Bird stayed in the tree for at least an hour, with its Blue Jay back up screamers serving as annoying company.

Blue Jay nemesis perches on the branch just above the owl, cawing nonstop.

As I snapped photos, the big, beautiful bird turned southward, spread its magnificent wings, and flew to a quieter spot. Maybe it’ll get some rest today, before hunting commences at sundown.

18 thoughts on “Who-Who’s There?”

  1. Ms Tina, I’m sure that you felt as blessed as I would have, to witness this glorious occurrence. I haven’t seen or heard an owl nearby for a long while and I truly miss it. I’ll continue to look and listen. I did have a hawk l and in my old tree about 10 feet from me while sitting on my deck last week. Only stayed about 30 seconds, but long enough to give me a thrill. Blessings to you.

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    • I think any smaller bird will sound the alarm when a predator is spotted and yes, definitely an owl could take out a jay or jay fledgling. I’ve seen all sorts of birds complain when they spot a Screech Owl, a Cooper’s Hawk, or a GHO. It’s kind of amusing to see the little Carolina Wrens, Chickadees, Titmice, fly near to the predator and make lots of noise.

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    • Yes, it is! The jays were loud and persistent. The drama was just across the street from us, in the big Live Oak.

      Actually, I was just out in back, listening to the Screech Owl when this GHO, or another, swooped near me, over the house and catio roof, and perched in a tree behind us.

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  7. Bluejays are my best ‘cat alarms.’ When I hear them screeching, it’s usually a cat that has their attention, although they’ll put up a fuss when any hawk appears. It’s wonderful that you have owls in your neighborhood, and that you’ve been able to capture such great photos of them. If you can’t watch activity in your box, at least you can enjoy them in the trees!

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    • They really are good at the alarm call business, aren’t they? Yes, I’m really glad to have both Screech owls and this GHO. I was listening to the Screech last night, just after sundown, when the GHO swooped near to me, landing in a different neighbor’s tree. So beautiful! I am watching a little squirrel who has made a nest in the nest box, so we might have a litter of squirrels to watch. They’re pretty cute too!

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  9. Nice discovery, Tina. I’m always amazed when owls or hawks allow themselves to get mobbed my much smaller birds, instead of defending themselves, or attacking in return. Most of the time they simply seem annoyed and take off when they have had enough. 🦉

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