Photo Share: Barred Owl Laughs

photo by Simon Pierre Barrette

Each spring, the memorable sound of courting Barred Owls echoes through our woods: "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" The escalating laughs, hoots and gargling howls reinforce the bond between pairs. At the height of courtship and when raising young, a pair of Barred Owls may continue their calls well into daylight hours, and they may hunt actively day and night.

Once while walking in the woods, I looked up when I heard a chickadee scolding and saw a Barred Owl perched high in the tree waiting to swoop down on unsuspecting prey. They like to hunt for mice, voles, squirrels, amphibians and small birds. Below his perch were round pellets of undigested bones and fur he'd coughed up from previous meals.

Unfortunately their numbers are in decline as more and more moist woodlands are being developed.

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