Last night, the released Eurasian Eagle-Owl reminded us of our once in a century visitor, a Snowy Owl. Flaco used the same perches the Snowy Owl used in 2021, on fences, at 3rd Base, and on backstops. They even stretched the same way, are eating the same diet, and earlier in the year used the same exact branch of a Black Locust.
Thanks to some good detective work by David Lei, Flaco’s new roosting site was found a bit south of the where he had been roosting. He hooted softly before fly out about five or six times, something I hadn’t heard in weeks. He didn’t catch any prey while we watched him hunt, but he took us all around the western section of the North Meadow. It was hot and after Flaco flew, as he settled down you could see him gular fluttering to cool off.
Flaco used many of the perches the Snowy Owl used in 2021, and was on the ground in the exact same location the snowy used its first day in the park. This evening brought back so many great memories of watching the Snowy Owl. Go Bubos!
On Wednesday evening, a few of us got some great looks at Flaco as he flew around landing on dumpsters, a concrete pipe, and various trees and perches including a few on the ground. But most surprising was his jumping into a puddle and taking a drink. This was the first time I had seen him in water.
Flaco had a hard time with all of the illegal fireworks both in and around the park on the Fourth of July. He settled down a bit as the night went on, but didn’t really hunt. Hopefully, he did better once the park was closed and the fireworks died down.
Flaco caught a Brown Rat early in the evening, but took his time finding a place to eat it. He got interrupted by people, fireworks and raccoons. It wasn’t until he had visited a number of locations that he settled down to dinner after midnight.
Central Park’s resident Great Horned Owl was in an open roosting location today, so I took some time to see her. She arrived in the park with a damaged left leg but has managed to do well despite the injury. In the video you can see how she’s adapted.
After fly out, and after the American Robins went to roost, she crooked and gave a short hoot. It was the first time I’d heard her in months.
