Great-horned Owl Fun in 2019

[centrarchid]

An owl just came in. It did not go into barn. Carcass used placed in front of camera not touched. Dogs were fired up, but had trouble locating it. Owl was trying to get at a couple of penned birds and may have gotten briefly hung up in the process. It may have flown into pen as I approached, and hit hard. The chickens are beyond reach, but is was still trying. It did not behave like what was going on a month or more before. Owl flew clear of the area. What I am used to seeing is owl flying just a bit to land in same tree to turn around and watch me. This owl seemed scared so maybe not the same one. This first season since I really started watching the owls that we had any sort of snow cover for more than a couple days. I think some different things will be observed this year.

To keep links up from previous years. This will be year 5.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/great-horned-owl-fun-in-2018.1214692/#post-19374275

 

[centrarchid]

Now it was in the barn. Flew as soon as I walked outside. Acting very skittish. I just switched from a white to red LED this evening. Maybe red light not bothering it as much.

 

[centrarchid]

Owl came back yet again. It found carcass that has been tied to chair for weeks. It is plucking rather than consuming feathers like it normally does. When owl retreats, it is going away from me / house. I do not think same owl as before holidays.

 

[micstrachan]

Yikes. Scary that this owl is so aggressive toward your chickens. We have a pair of great horned owls that live nearby. I’ve only seen one once, at dusk, but we hear them talking to each other at night. Beautiful birds and powerful predators.

 

[centrarchid]

It is here for more than chickens, mice and rabbits too. I think usual prey options are getting tough to catch.

 

[micstrachan]

It is here for more than chickens, mice and rabbits too. I think usual prey options are getting tough to catch.

Wild rabbits or pets?

I wish our owls would kill off our rat population. We bought one inside the run last night. If we caught one, I’m sure there are more.

 

[centrarchid]

Wild rabbits. You may have owls too
High rabbit density big draw for gho.

 

[centrarchid]

Something is really up. Pup and owl switch positions on carcass multiple times until about midnight. Pup was chasing owl off and did a lot of barking as running from house to barn. Pup then quit going out to barn. Owl was over carcass until about 30 minutes before I went to barn in the morning. We may have two owls coming in. I have yet to see owl retreat in direction of where I think nearest nest is located. Nest I think is to the east of house. Barn is to west of house.

 

[centrarchid]

Owl already in at about dark. We were late getting back from parent teacher stuff so door not shut. I was pushing meeting to end. Owl passed up fully acceptable live birds that where only 5 feet away. Owl dropping a lot of meat parts on the ground.

 

[centrarchid]

Only two nights required to consume chicken carcass. Normally 4 to 5 nights required to consume bird the size this one. It could be single owl needs more food per unit time when cold or more than one owl. Either way, an owl camped out on carcass most of the night once dogs quit chasing it off.