The Barred Owl that has delighted us since last fall is still in the park, often near the water and often bathing at dusk in Central Park. It really is nice to have a resident owl in the park. These photos are from last week.

The Barred Owl in Central Park continues to be harassed by Blue Jays and American Robins during the day, and especially at dusk. On Thursday night, the attacks were relentless and the owl moved around from tree to tree in an attempt to avoid them.

In the middle of all of this, the Barred Owl caught a bird and ate it. It only took a few minutes. While it was eating, it was still being attacked by Blue Jays.

When it was done eating it stopped at a small pond, before going to a stream to get a drink. By now it was dark enough that the harassment had stopped. It stayed at the water, either perching nearby or being in the stream bed for a good twenty minutes. Then it was off to look for Brown Rats, off the railing of a bridge before it was flushed by passers by. I then lost track of the owl, only to hear it as I was leaving the park about 100 yards north of where I lost it.

The Barred Owl continues to stay in Central Park despite the abuse of American Robins and Blue Jays. It’s moving about during the day a bit, and is rarely seen in the Hemlock it used for months.

The Barred Owl in Central Park seems to have abandoned the Hemlock Tree it has been roosting in. It is being harassed often by a variety of birds during the day. At dusk, was the other birds got ready to go to sleep it seemed to enjoy the brief period of peace. It was beginning to rain, so I didn’t stay for the fly out.

The Central Park Barred Owl has been having a tough week. Blue Jays, American Robins, and Red-tailed Hawks all would like to see the owl leave the park. It is either being forced out of the Hemlock Tree or just being found in a nearby tree. It will be interesting to see how long the Barred Owl continues to stay.