Two Great Horned Owl babes burgeoning with curiosity, Crocuses blooming and a Merlin scattering sparrows

St. Louis. On this 60° sunny afternoon, two Great Horned Owl babes made more of an appearance, burgeoning with curiosity about their world, jumping up and down in the cavity to see over the ledge. I heard from Heather, a woman who has taken a shine to these Owls, that someone had been flying a drone over the area about a week ago on a cold day and Mama Owl had flown off terrified and didn't come back for two hours! Walking the rest of the park, a pair of Barred Owls were being hounded by a Cooper's Hawk (the Cooper's Hawk screamed up a storm until one finally flew with the hawk in hot pursuit), Cardinals were courting, Juncos were singing, a Fox Sparrow was scratching away again today near the same water spit but had been joined by a Song Sparrow. Today they were chased away by a high speed Merlin. It took them awhile to return. Way more blackbirds had arrived - big numbers of Grackles and Rusties. Starlings were staking claim to cavities for nesting. Titmice were calling from everywhere. Chickadees were busy checking out nesting cavities. Jays were skulking around and laying claim to territory. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker got a bit frisky, doing back flips in the trees then zipping off. Brown Creepers had the friskies, too, three chasing each other around one particular tree over and over. Golden-crowned Kinglets were present in small numbers. The fearsome foursome was unfortunately being fed by some well meaning old women who do this on a regular basis, but whom I refuse to say anything to as they pick up trash around the lake as well. There are signs to not feed them, but these two have always ignored them. Crocus were bloomin. Flickers were pronouncing their desires loudly enough to be heard over cars. Hairies were drumming away in usual spots. Snow was still evident in spots. Red-bellied Woodpeckers were as raucous as ever, but with a bit more zest. We were all feeling a taste of spring enlivening our blood.

Posted on March 5, 2022 12:19 AM by wildreturn