Category: Owls

Central Park Snowy Owl 2021, Owls

Snow and Water

The Snowy Owl has been appearing on one of Central Park’s North Meadow ballfields at dusk each day since it arrived. Ballfield 3, 4 and Ballfield 10 seem to be favorites stops.

On Sunday, February 7th, the owl appeared from the west and landed on Ballfield 10, then flew west and we relocated it on top of the Ballfield 4 backstop (where the owl was first seen the day it was discovered). The owl then few down to the field, but quickly took off possibly to the north. We searched but couldn’t find it.

We then joined the group who was waiting for the owl to appear at the North Gatehouse of Reservoir. It appeared and left after a few minutes. The crowd was well behaved on SuperB Owl Sunday, although there were some flashes and autofocus assist lights.

It will be interesting to see what more we learn about this owl. It certainly has been seen in the area north of the Reservoir and south of the North Meadow, but where it is hunting and where it is hiding during the day remains a mystery.

Central Park Snowy Owl 2021, Owls

Snowy Owl In The Snow

On Thursday night, February 4th, I had a Zoom meeting and then ate dinner. I saw reports of the Snowy Owl being seen again in Central Park, so I decided to visit the park around 9:00 pm.

I ran into a person who I’ve met a few times at the Evodia Feeders and one of the Barred Owls. This person said the owl had just left and was headed north.

I tried to think like an owl and thought a large snowy field would be a likely spot to relocate the owl. After some walking around, the person I had bumped into by chance found the owl. Wire fencing was in the way of our view, and we started to walk towards a low fence. The snow had an icy crust and the crunch was enough to make the owl move on. (I felt horrible that I had flushed the owl, but we had been more than 150 yards away and I didn’t realize the snow was crunchy. Accidents like this happen even if you’re careful!)

It would have been great to just have seen the owl for a few seconds, but luck was on our side. We walked around the area and scanned the fields. My new acquaintance said, “There’s the owl, oh sorry it’s a snowman.” But I had already lifted my binoculars and I said, “Yes that’s a snowman, but the owl is right next to it.” Luckily the heavy markings of this bird make it easy to pick up in snow.

The Snowy Owl was eating a Brown Rat in the snow. The light was very dim, and we were about 250 yard away but somehow my camera was able to pick up the owl in the low light. The images won’t win any awards, but they will give you an increadible insight into what this owl is up to in the park.

We were about to watch the owl for over an hour and twenty minutes. It took its time eating the rat. It then cleaned its beak and talons in the snow and then did some playful short flights before flying off.

I’ve been lucky to have had many magical moments with nature. But this ranks in the top ten. To see a Snowy Owl eat a rodent, in the middle of Central Park was unreal. If I hadn’t recorded it, you won’t believe me if I told you the adventure.

Owls

Barred Owl Continues to Surprise

The Barred Owl seemed back to a relaxed roost after a few day of high winds and show. It was in a standard perch, did its normal stretches, and then made a few calls before flying out.

It made some quick long flights, and I was surprised we kept up with it as long as we did. It visited areas I haven’t seen it in before. It was in much higher perches than normal. I suspect after two days of snow, it was on patrol duty, rather than worrying about a quick meal tonight.

Owls

Snow Day

The Barred Owl flew out north tonight in a snowstorm. It seems to be doing fine with the snow, but while I saw it concentrate of hunting, it didn’t seem to be going after anything.

It called two times and I was able to follow it to three perches before it gave me the slip.

Owls

Lesson Learned

On about a third of the nights I’ve watched the Central Park Barred Owl, I’ve lost track of it. Tonight, I learned my mistake. It’s always about prey, not location.

The night started like many others. With the calmer winds, the owl was on a standard perch, and made one call. It took a few steps west and stretched, the standard one wing down, the other wing down and both wings back stretches before flying out.

The bird quickly made long flights west northwest, much farther than I would have expected. But once the owl got to its final perch to hunt I understood why. This section of the park the owl uses as home base, has three people who feed lots of food to birds, squirrels and sometimes raccoons. Each feeding location, due to the excess food, also has colonies of rats.

I’ve always ignored looking around tonight’s hunting location because it is brightly lit and has lots of foot and electric cart traffic. I thought no owl would want to be out in the open in the bright light. But for the owl this location is a buffet, and in the trade off between privacy and food, food clearly was winning.

So, I’ve learned my lesson. It’s all about prey.

The photographs all used the lighting that was there. The street lights, two electric cart lights and the focus assist light of an older DSLR being used by another photographer. I didn’t add any.