Not what you expect at a stop sign!

• 06-27-2009 10:46 PM

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 11,980 Points 3,770

  Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact David and I were just coming home (about 10:00 p.m.) down our pretty busy 2-lane suburban street -- it's sort of a well-known cut-off between two big roads so not only is it the main street thru our subdivision but it's busy enough that it has stop signs every couple of blocks to calm down traffic. We were just above our house (we're 1 house from the corner) and David and I both saw "something" in the middle of the street with glittering eyes.  It didn't move -- I thot 'cat' at first but nope ... got up CLOSE (and David had slowed down) and it WAS AN OWL!!!  A barred owl.   http://www.wildflorida.com/wildlife/birds/Barred_Owl.php SITTING in the middle of the street.  Hmmm -- **strange** owl behavior.  I know I saw one sitting on a stop sign a few weeks ago -- we HAVE tons of them on this street (because they love to live in the old big live oaks and from the air you'd never know this is a 'city' - looks more like woodland) and I know the house next to mine has a pair living in their tree next to my property.  But normally they're high in trees -- it's *very* unusual to see one sitting low on anything like a mailbox and it's VERY unusual to see one on the ground unless it's sick, altho I have actually seen them on my porch in days gone by (looking into my house in fact).  David came to a stop and the bird looked a tad disgusted to have to move and he hopped up to the curb and then flew up to the top of the stop sign and just sat there.  We drove on and I said "DAVID TURN AROUND THER'S ANOTHER ONE!!!" Yep -- I was right -- literally on the other side of the street there was another owl on THAT stop sign (there's a 4-way stop there) Dunno what's going on -- but I suspect either they are guarding something food-wise, or I have to wonder if they have an owlet that is sick or injured there.  At this point I'd love to go out there, but I erred on the side of caution and just called the police (they're literally a block away).  They can get hold of the Audubon Society if they find one sick (we have an awesome Audubon Predatory Bird center just a couple of miles from here that is a recovery center, so this really isn't as odd a call as it may seem).  I'm not a huge owl fan (because they hunt and I hate to hear them kill squirrels and other small animals).  But David went out with the dogs tonight.  They will snag small dogs (like elderly pekes or pugs).  I just wish I knew what they're so focused on.  If it were one bird I'd think maybe it was sick but with there being two, I'd sooner think there's an injured owlet down there.  They grieve horribly when they lose a young one.  I found a baby that had died in my yard a few years ago -- it had literally dropped from it's perch (it looked like it had probably died before it fell).  I just hate to see anything sick .. and even tho I don't like them much I'd never wish sadness on them.  But if we were out there we couldn't help and if the police are looking they can actually reach the Audubon people and get them out here TONIGHT.  and if there's a sick baby I'd rather see it get help. "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

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• 06-27-2009 11:36 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  daisyprincess Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 823 Points 0

  Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact My younger sister works at the mall and last year she had an audit and she was gonna be home late and with two kids I told her to tell my BIL that I would pick her up and bring her home since I would probably be up,, So I drive to the mall and I see animal eyes I said that isn't a cat and when I got closer it was an Owl sitting on the curb of the sidewalk I said to myself wow never knew Owls get to the ground so low I have no clue about Owls so. It was just odd.

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• 06-27-2009 11:53 PM

  In reply to daisyprincess

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 11,980 Points 3,770

  Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact David and I saw one on a neighbor's mailbox a couple of years ago and he LOOKED sick.  You typically don't see them so low -- they have a gi-normous wingspan (like 4-6 feet) and they are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO silent when they fly (it's how they hunt)  Now, pre-dark you'll see them up in the trees -- but it's rare to see them down low.  And for a PAIR?  That's just plain weird ... and unfortunately I'm thinking it's a sick baby.  *sigh* "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

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• 06-28-2009 9:08 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  ron2 Joined on 09-10-2007 far north central Texas Posts 11,505 Points 595	Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact You would have been right to call the authorities. In Texas and Oklahoma, we are supposed to call the proper authorities to handle captured or injured raptors, when necessary.   The way you treat your dog in this life determines your place in heaven. - chukchi proverb
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• 06-28-2009 10:16 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  janobonano Joined on 09-10-2007 northern WI Posts 8,645 Points 1,425	Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact  I've heard of burrowing owls (always makes me think of that song by The Dead Milkmen ) that are often seen on the ground. Do you think it could have been that?
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• 06-28-2009 10:31 PM

  In reply to janobonano

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 11,980 Points 3,770

  Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact I actually spoke to the Audubon myself today (and no, the police didn't call them last night).  Burrowing owls are much smaller -- and no, these are barred owls (just like the picture above I linked in) -- there are tons of them here.  they look just like a horned owl pretty much, except no 'horns' -- but kind of a distinctive pattern on them.  The gal at Audubon said that I was probably right -- they were either guarding something or perhaps were focused on a fledgling.  She said they may have been watching a fledglings actions but NOT interfering -- apparently the babies at this stage are "fledged" or adult-size and have "left" the nest, altho the parents may still be a tad bit "interested" in them.  (sounds like worried human parents huh???) Given that he was able to fly up to the sign (and was ok enough to give me a disgruntled look) it was likely all "ok" but she asked me to let them know if we see the behavior repeated over the next few days. Barred owls tend to be quite private most of the time --you HEAR them tons -- they're not as territorial as some which is why she thot they might be watching a fledge or such.  They'll snag anything they can carry off to feed on (I told her I knew that because we have to small dogs) but she said particularly that they won't pick a fight -- even with two of them -- with a bigger dog.  They'd chatter and scold but not normally dive-bomb them.  That would be atypical behavior. "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

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• 06-29-2009 1:49 AM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  Krissim Klaw Joined on 08-26-2007 Posts 770 Points 0

  Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact  Awe, I'm jealous, owls have always been one of my favorite birds of prey.  Growing up there was a pair of burrowing owls that made our acre of land their central territory.  They used to like to roost in our barn.  Poor chaps even tried several times to nest up there.  This sadly never panned out and often the eggs would end up rolling from the beams and crashing to the ground since they didn't really have much in above ground nest making skills.  They always seemed to have a hard go because our land is on a canal and often do to good old South Florida muck resulted in flooding that timed perfectly with when they were trying to raise clutches.  They did manage to get a few succesfful clutches though.  I used to love sitting out and watching the nestlings.  The parents recognized us as non threatening and never felt the need to display and often had no problem showing off their youngsters to us. =3

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• 06-29-2009 10:38 AM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  rwbeagles Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW, TX Posts 18,884 Points 2,200

  Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact Interesting.I wouldn't be surprised if the owl that was down took a thump from a passing car going after a mouse. Many time mice and rats RUN across streets at night...and owls follow...if the mouse runs out in front of a car most times it can dodge the wheels..small as they are...but not often the bird. I hope he was fine, just a bit stunned and perhps confused..and flew off after a bit of time to clear it's head. Gina H. aka "Tellingmewhattodoperson" Happy St. Paddy's Day, all! Cleo's Blog: lionessrampantblog.blogspot.com/ My blog: ryngwrayth.blogspot.com/

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• 06-29-2009 12:44 PM

  In reply to rwbeagles

  yanke Joined on 09-10-2007 Connecticut Posts 873 Points 0	Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact We have a barred owl near our house - every year it comes and does it's "who cooked for you".  It keeps me awake for about three weeks.
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• 06-29-2009 3:11 PM

  In reply to yanke

  Bullymom Joined on 03-14-2007 North Carolina Posts 3,554 Points 110	Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact  I love Owls!  I think they are too cute for words!  My Mawmaw doesn't care for them at all!  She came out one morning to find a owl, eating one of her little chickens!! ~*Kimberly*~
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• 06-29-2009 11:04 PM

  In reply to rwbeagles

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 11,980 Points 3,770

  Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact rwbeagles: I hope he was fine, just a bit stunned and perhps confused..and flew off after a bit of time to clear it's head.   Not in this case -- he wasn't stunned at all.  He was sitting clearly where HE wanted to be, and was typically owl-nimble in hopping to the curb and then when the car moved he flew as easy as pie up to the sign.  And the other one was just plain watching him.  You're right -- they CAN get hit easily (and often don't make it, but traffics pretty slow on this whole street really). The corner they were on is PERFECT for hunting - that particular guy has like EIGHT citrus trees in his front yard (citrus trees = tree rats = LUNCH for owls and rat snakes).  This corner is the equivalent of this pair's front porch -- we've got no less than six bonded pairs that live on our street) -- which is just FULL of huge live-oak trees.  If he'd have acted at all stunned I would have been tearing up the phone to get Audubon THEN (this facility near us is a raptor recovery place -- they are freaking AWESOME if you dig raptors).  He wasn't dazed or ruffled at all -- neither of them were.  We were probably rudely interrupting a well-planned stake out.  The street between the two owls would have been exactly the path that rodents would have taken to move from Stuart's trees to this other lady's trees.  I have a feeling the fact that they were BOTH so low to the ground likely more indicative of the fact that supper was probably coming to them.  Since it's a 4-way STOP they've probably figured out that it's a darned safe place TO hunt (cos the cars all obligingly stop from all directions -- so if he was gonna sit IN the road anywhere that would have been the place to do it.  Heck it's only 2 blocks from the police station and not a place where ANYBUDDY ever runs the sign.  I was just being my typical worry-wart self that there was a fledgling sick nearby - but since Audubon told me that fledge's are nearly adult size, we probably stumbled on a simple summer owl picnic or something.  Haven't seen them the last two nights. I'm not an owl fan ... I like the little furry critturs too much.  But I can't stand to see anything hurt -- and they've ALL gotta eat.  *sigh* (and neither am I fond of the danged tree rats, so the owls do me THAT favor and I'd rather have owls than .. shudder ... rat snakes.) "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

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• 06-30-2009 2:52 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  janobonano Joined on 09-10-2007 northern WI Posts 8,645 Points 1,425	Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact calliecritturs: The corner they were on is PERFECT for hunting - that particular guy has like EIGHT citrus trees in his front yard (citrus trees = tree rats = LUNCH for owls and rat snakes).   Wow, didn't know that! Mental note to self: don't plant citrus trees! Oh wait, I forgot, I live in WI! They wouldn't grow anyway. LOL
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• 06-30-2009 6:35 PM

  In reply to janobonano

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 11,980 Points 3,770

  Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact Yeah, I've got ONE lemon tree and that's enough.  The citrus rats cured ME of ever wanting more citrus trees and the the next door neighbor plants EIGHT. (and lets the fruit rot -- oh joy -- that really DOES call vermin grrrr) "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

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• 06-30-2009 6:39 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  erica1989 Joined on 02-21-2007 Clearwater, Florida Posts 4,727 Points 505

  Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact We've got 2 orange trees, and a grapefruit tree. I know there's a few rats out there - that's pretty much a given anywhere in FL, but I wouldn't say it's a big problem. The dog keeps the yard pretty 'clear'. I would say the squirrels are more annoying with leaving their half eaten fruit all over the side yard - where the dog(s) can't get to! I've always been pretty fond of owls - neat little guys. I've gotten to handle a few of the screech owls before.

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• 07-01-2009 12:29 AM

  In reply to erica1989

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 11,980 Points 3,770

  Re: Not what you expect at a stop sign! Reply Contact We were out tonight and deliberately came home that way and nary an owl in sight (nor even heard) If I'm going to 'bond' with an owl it would be one of the little kestrels.  Erica -- some time when you have nothing better to do and want a GREAT date place -- drive over I-4 East to the Lee Rd. exit just above downtown.  Right on Lee and left on 17-92 and then Left on Kennedy/Grant to Eatonville and folllow the signs to the Audubon Raptor Center.  It is AWESOME -- cheap to get in (just like $8 I think), nice place to pack/bring a lunch to.  Owls, eagles, hawks. osprey, .... demonstrations.  Very cool place.  Awesome place to bring kids to.  But you can see right in to the nursery/hospital area (one way glass) to see what they've got in there nursing at the time.  One of our favorite places to go to (I'm a mega osprey fan -- I LOVE watching those nests). I don't have a huge problem with tree rats either but they can get under your house and chew on your duct work (mega $$$) "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

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