We have Barred Owl visitors in the trees behind our house fairly often. This was a daytime visitor a while back. They usually call “Who…Who…Who Cooks for You.” Not always.
Steady gaze
Last night we heard hoots. I opened an audio recording app on the phone and held it out the back door. We heard faint distant return hoots but they were too soft to get recorded.
Our View From Iowa 
Love the sound of a nearby Barred Owl.
We do, too. They are like old friends.
That’s a stunning photo, your so lucky to have such good company nearby.
Hi Anne…thank you. Yes, we enjoy the good neighbors in our backyard and frontyard. A few minutes ago 3 deer showed up in the street of our cul de sac. This morning two other young ones ran back and forth through our yard as the garbage trucks came down the street.
Love hearing those hoots. Who gives a hoot? You do, obviously. A couple of weeks ago I finally saw my first owl, in a stand of pine trees. I don’t know what kind it was, but there happened to be an experienced birder nearby who confirmed its owl-hood. My goodness, it was big! Now that I know where one’s hanging out, and given that it’s not too far away, I may try another time or two to see it again.
Good for you! I don’t know what owls are typically down your way. We get Barred Owls most of the time. We’ve seen Great Horned a few times. They are a lot bigger. I hope you will be able to see it again.
I rarely see our resident Barred Owl during the day. They sure make themselves known most every evening, though. They are usually along the trail, but sometimes in the trees around the house. It is always good to hear them. Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you have some nearby.
While a different type of hoot, it looks a lot like our Tawny owls. 🙂
These guys have kept me up too many nights.
I know what you mean. Sometimes they get very carried away, almost laughing.
They are loud as hell!
Barred owls are in Florida too, but the one I heard was in Central Florida.
All About Birds shows them over a wide area.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/maps-range
I didn’t know that. Most Barred Owls remain in a single area their whole lives. On rare occasions they may wander farther in search of food during winters when prey is scarce. That makes sense. The States they don’t thrive in are the Western and Midwest. I found an article that I really like that an ornithologist wrote about Barred Owls. There are both forest and suburban owls. He wrote a study on the differences which make each population thrive: https://www.ospreytrax.com/Osprey_Migration/barred_owls.htm
That linked article was interesting. Our home in Iowa includes quite a lot of mature trees nearby. The owls have access to the understory and yards as well as woods and meadows away from town. It seems the best of both worlds.
I hope the suburban ones are treated kindly by humans. Although the study was done in Charlotte, the article does seem to bring to light some interesting issues about some wildlife. Some of it is moving closer to suburbs, and I gather humans will have to study this new relationship order to coexist.
Every now and then I hear these owls calling in my neighborhood and am always so excited to know they are here.
Their calls are certainly distinctive and welcome.
My son has moved to the North Woods, where he commonly hears loons. People actually complain about loons! Such problems to have…
I don’t think a loon would bother me unless they called all night near my window.
Me neither.
Jim, I’ve been reading that our magnetic north pole is moving rapidly. Are we in danger of losing our atmosphere?
No. Your compass will be affected. Do you have one?
No but I have noticed that google maps isn’t as reliable as it used to be. What a relief