Owl Prowl

Allens Pond Massachusetts Audubon sanctuary held two Owl Prowls, one at the end of November and one this past Saturday.  It was held On the Stone Barn property of the sanctuary.  For both prowls there were at least 20+ participants.

The prowl started before sunset at around 430 and consisted of Lauren giving a talk about the owls which ones or on the property and some general information about them.  On the first prowl, we also listen to the calls of the screech and horned owls.  The group then slowly traveled along the paths of the property, stopping and listening for the calls of the owls.  We did hear one owl calling in the distance.

For the 2nd walk.  It started with the lecture, then we walk slowly down to the barn, where we had set up benches for people to sit on while we played a screech owl call.  After a short period of time, or call was answered by a screech owl.  The screech owl continue to call, and seem to be very close to us in an evergreen.  Utilizing a flashlight, with a red lens over the light to prevent loss of our night vision, the owl was found in the tree.  It then flew to a be a branch in the next tree over, where it continued to call and by illuminating it with the red light everybody got a great look at a screech owl.

We then did a short walk around listening for some owls calling in the distance.  On returning to the starting site, we then played a great horned owl call, and did get a call back and return.  However, no great horned owls appeared ..

on the 2nd walk, the night was clear , and there was a partial moon in the sky.

everybody enjoyed their owl prowl.