10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2012

Wander through my front door and glance upwards and you’ll find at least two watching you, a Tawny Owl and a Barn Owl , both sadly gathered as roadkills. Above our fireplace is a large painting of a Barn Owl.

Barn Owls 181

Barn Owls Finland Owls Portugal 181

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2018

As I am only a word herder with miniscule picture-making skills, my favorite wildlife photographers have graciously shared their work with us. Let’s enjoy the owls of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Eastern Screech-Owl. Great Horned Owl with owlet and dinner. Stygian Owl. Photo by © KS Nature Photography.

Texas 153

Texas Owls Barn Owls Hunting 153

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2013

With casual bird watchers out numbering hardcore bird watchers, people with a camera and an interest in wildlife are not going to have all the facts about wildlife before they go out. And quite frankly, I’ve seen some of the most dedicated of ethical birders get excited at finding an owl and get closer than they should.

Owls 263

Owls Barn Owls Agenda Zoos 263

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

.” Writing about owls means writing about roughly 250 species (I counted 245 on the 2022 Clements spreadsheet, but I might have missed a few, and we all know that each classification system is different). Owls are in danger from the usual threats–habitat destruction, climate change, human intrusion. They are also hunted.

Owls 212

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 212

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

I always undertake a number of short timed surveys for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Big Farmland Bird Count in February, and though the counts didn’t add anything to the year list, they were memorable for finding big flocks of finches and buntings, while a daylight-hunting Barn Owl was a pleasing sight.

Estonia 226

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 226

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

American Kestrels, Cooper Hawks , and Northern Harriers also found the hunting here to their liking. I spooked three Barn Owls out of a dense scrub row, just as the sun was setting. It got to within about 15 yards, calmly hunting for breakfast as it came. This one flew right over my head.

Albuquerque 122

Albuquerque New Mexico Mexico Sparrows 122

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2012

I decided to go to KPBL after my first day in Cairns and use the place as my base with which to explore the Atherton Tableland, a high area to the west of Cairns famous for its wildlife. We soon located two nests of Eastern Barn Owls , but were unable to find the Sooty Owls that make the site a drawn for many birders.

Possums 171

Possums Guinea Marsupials Rats 171