That’s the cry of the Barred Owl, often heard reverberating through our neighborhood after sunset and before sunrise.
Barred owls are highly territorial, and they choose a mate in the middle of winter. This year, the evening of January 6 appeared to be the winter social “hoot-enanny,” as dozens of owls loudly staked their claims to mates and roosts.
The owls lay a clutch of eggs, which are incubated for a period of about four weeks. This nesting pair has delighted keen-eyed passersby along the Henderson Road side of the path in the City park near Williamsburg Road. We will be watching for babies toward the end of February.
