I didn’t have a chance to post these until today.  They are of the remaining Eastern Screech-Owl in the park.  She was calling non-stop again, although we only found her after fly out.  She’s mixing up roosts yet again!

She appeared to be eating buds at the top of a tree for a few mintues.  It’s hard to know if she’s eating the buds or insects on the buds.

I got to spend a relaxed evening with the park’s Eastern Screech-Owl this evening.  She was very relaxed and flew out to a low tree trunk only ten feet from me this evening.  I try not to get that close, but if she comes to me, I’ll take advantage of it!

Tonight, she regurgitated a pellet, which had the partial remains of a white footed mouse.

She was also quiet.  Her spring hormones must have subsided, as she is no longer calling and calling.  Her “Only”ness, as one of my readers described her recent situation, is troubling for all of us who know why she is alone. She is the soul survivor of the misguided and politically motivated, reintroduction program called Project X. 

At least one Long-eared Owls continues to be in the park.  It was sleeping when I arrived, ignoring the young adults smoking pot on the nearby hill!

I ran into a longtime friend and a photographer who I had never met before.  I helped them find the owl, since it was difficult to locate. 

The “new to birding” photographer asked me questions about camera equipment non-stop.  I didn’t have the heart to say, “It’s not the equipment stupid” but wanted to.  If you want to be a birding photographer, don’t worry about your equipment. Getting a good kit together is easy.

Today, most birding photography is rather soulless.  Most photographers are obsessed with the perfect details in the perfect light.  These photographs are like yearbook pictures, perfectly boring.

Captivating pictures tell you something about the bird’s behavior or environment.  To do that, you’ve got be part birder, part naturalist and lastly a photographer.

So, if you want to ask me questions, don’t ask me about hardware.  Ask me about when the light is good, what I’m discovering about the bird’s behavior today, what moment I’m trying to capture, etc.  If you don’t study the bird and figure out what’s special about it, how can you take a great picture of it?

Long-eared Owls continue to be seen in Central Park.  Two were visible on Saturday in a tree south of their last location.  It was great to see them again.

On Saturday, a group of bird watchers stood carefully across the road from the roost and observed the park’s Eastern Screech-Owl.  The group was wonderfully handled by a NYC Urban Park Ranger.  They kept their distance from the owl, were quiet and didn’t disturb her in the least.  Her ears stayed flat the whole time the group watched them.

A few hearty souls quietly followed her after fly out and were rewarded by getting to see her preen and call. 

The North Woods Eastern Screech-Owl continued her calling this evening.  She ventured up to the Great Lawn to advertise her availability.

Before fly out she did some grooming, and there were a few frames of video that clearly showed she is banded.

While she is doing all of this calling, I certainly hope Dr. Robert DeCandido does not lead an “Owl Tour” and play his Screech-Owl tapes.  She certainly doesn’t need to be confused by Birding Bob as she looks for a mate.