The Nature of Owl Talk

Photo by Kurt Lindsay Kurt Photo by

www.hungryowl.org NEWSLETTER“For owls and our shared environment” Issue No. 2 - 2016 The Nature of Owl Talk By Joe Mueller Biology Professor, College of Marin The sounds of owls talking late into the night may seem mysterious, but there are solid biologically accepted reasons for their diversity of vocalizations. The variation has much to do with how owls have evolved, becoming the dominant nocturnal avian predators. Owl behavioral ecology explains why owls have evolved such a plentiful repertoire of hoots, howls, wails, screams, whistles, yelps, shrieks, barks, whines and whinnies.

Although there’s no single accepted definition, bioacousticians often distinguish bird vocalizations by categorizing them into two groups: songs and calls. Songs are typically the loud and relatively long vocal displays that males Owl eyelids blink from top to bottom, unlike other birds, but just like us. Perhaps that's make to defend territory and attract mates. why we think they're wise... Photo by Joe Mueller Calls are short simple vocalizations, usually made by males and females alike early November, male great horned owls Later in the season, circa January to to give warnings and register distress, as fly from post to treetop, hooting the March in our region, the male owl’s low well as to signal arrivals at the nest to feed. circumference of their domain. This pitch hooting functions for attracting a behavior functions as a “keep out” mate. Their mating behavior is a lot more The range of owl vocalizations, from warning to prospective male rivals, as complicated than it appears just from the hoots to howls, serves a variety of each male marks his territory, his food sound of it because many birds, including essential functions. Primary songs, for source and his mate’s nesting area. The owls, work hard to keep their species instance, are all about territory and male great horned owl not only announces genetically separate. Because of their mating; in other words, owls sing to assure his territory, but also broadcasts his fitness behavior mechanisms, a great horned owl enough food and reproduce. Since owls to warn aspiring competitors to stay away. would never breed with a spotted owl, for are among the earliest nesters, the first Male owls have no need to fight because example. In other words, the great horned order of business for the males is to they proclaim their power with the female would never choose to mate with proclaim their territory. As the sun sets in intensity and consistency of their vocals. an owl that is hooting like a spotted owl. ...continued on Page 6

HOP is a partnership with 501(c)(3) Non Pro t ID No. 51-0172331 1 Ambassador Owl To Choose Update Hope Gazeau the Great Horned Owl

Dear Friends of the Owls,

It is hard to swim through the endless sad and haunting information we are confronted with and not feel despair. Feeling apathy is understandable, and we’ve all felt that way before. Yet, what if by choosing hope, it magically makes a difference in the outcome? If 2016 has been our chance to introduce Gazeau to the outcome is inevitable, what does it matter how we choose to the world. We started carefully, with smaller, very feel? However, with hope comes a responsibility to try to make manageable presentations to friends of Hungry those positive changes. It gives us meaning and courage. With hope Owl, but she’s now been to two libraries, an Earth we can look out upon the world, and see the exquisite beauty that Day celebration, and a presentation to Girl Scouts reflects in all that surrounds us. That is truly worth preserving and at Camp Bothin. We’re especially looking forward to introducing her to many of you at protecting. Talons in October. (Gazeau was named after one of our mentors, Camille Gazeau, who passed Every footstep makes an impact. Every good thought or deed away 3 years ago. “Gazeau” rhymes with “hello”. makes an impact. No matter how insignificant it might seem, we When you think of her, think “Hel-LO Ga-ZOH!” make an impact each day, good or bad. By choosing hope in each Just say it quietly if she’s near.) Photo by Joe Fox moment, our impact can add to the light. One candle, lighting others, can bring light to the darkness. Buho the Western Screech Owl Hope can mean the one owlet rescued and reunited with her parents survives to rule the night skies.

Sincerely,

2016 has been a very full year for Buho. Hundreds of people have had a chance to meet Alex Godbe him and learn about our local owls at HOP Executive Director presentations. Buho may be small, but he makes a remarkable impression! (“Buho” is Spanish for “owl” and pronounced BOO-oh.) Photo by Joe Fox

HOP Newsletter - Issue No. 2, 2016 The Hungry Owl Project 50 Glen Rd, Novato, CA 94945 The Hungry Owl Project Newsletter is published 415-454-4587 NEWSLETTER semi-quarterly. Subscribe by becoming a HOP member [email protected] at www.hungryowl.org or by calling 415-454-4587. www.hungryowl.org We make every effort to ensure that all contents of this publication are accurate. Nonetheless, human error, Executive Director: Alex Godbe printing errors and other mistakes still occasionally occur. Editor / Assistant Director: Joe Fox

2 www.hungryowl.org Sunday, October 2nd Noon-4pm

Live Owls & Hawks Adults: $35 / Kids: $10 Educational Talks At: Marin Art & Garden Center Kids Corner 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross, CA

The Hungry Owl Project 50 Glen Rd, Novato, CA 94945 Food, Wine & More Tickets & Info: www.hungryowl.org 415-454-4587 [email protected] www.hungryowl.org

Executive Director: Alex Godbe Editor / Assistant Director: Joe Fox

www.hungryowl.org 3

We climbed the ladders until we were An Interview With James Reed, just under the maintenance platform, where we were blocked by loads of Tree Climber & Raptor Rescuer sticks. This was very interesting to me By Joe Fox & Alex Godbe that the birds instinctively new that the ladder was a possible route for predators they need simple steps to follow to precautions in doing the tree work to and they built a barricade to prevent handle these situations and still benefit their survival. Not to mention anyone from reaching the nest! I spent complete the work. Another way is to our own safety as well. Infrequently we about five minutes breaking up and contact the Western Chapter will find raccoons nesting the trees and tossing sticks down below to ascend the International Society of Arboriculture its just best to leave them alone last five feet to the nest. When I finally here in California. They would be able completely, or risk getting attacked. reached the nest we were about 100ft up to send out information through their from the ground and the wind was network and would help to emphasize HOP: How did you connect with HOP blowing about 20mph. I immediately the importance of protecting wildlife as and start volunteering with the rescue saw the young bird trying to fly from the part of our industry standards. program? nest, opening its wings it would start to soar but was tethered by a 4 ft piece of HOP: Do you find it helpful to know a JR: My friend and fellow arborist, Jim twine. Apparently the parents had little natural history of the common Cairnes, who has been one of the woven into the nest a long piece of twine species you’re likely to encounter while original tree climbers for HOP, into the nest to hold it together but working in trees? For instance, by introduced me to the program and sometime after the baby hatched the contacting HOP, we are able to identify trained me on handling raptors in the twine wrapped around its leg and tied it the species and estimate a safe time for trees. to the nest! With the other two men the work to be completed. People don’t coming up behind me we had enough realize that it’s often simply a matter of HOP: Do you feel the work of reuniting hands and immediately captured the James Reed in a tree alongside a nest. postponing work for a couple weeks birds is important? osprey and cut the string loose from the Photo by Anne Ardillo while the birds complete their nesting nest. When we went to unwrap the twine cycle and the young leave the nest. JR: Yes, I think it’s very important, from its leg we ran into a problem and found the the skin had actually started to especially in the heavily populated all the environmental hazards for which was built on the top of an old grow around the string. At that point we James “JR” Reed is a Fairfax based JR: Yes. For me, since I now know areas. There is so much human activity wildlife. Raptors keep nature in check WWII crane - and that I should be decided quickly that we were not arborist and the founder of the Tree more about Hawks and Owls and in and around cities and the landscape is and we need to ensure their survival if prepared to climb using ropes and qualified to do field surgery and boxed Monkey Project (treemonkeyfun.com), a understand the time periods of their always changing - being torn down and we want any semblance of balance - saddle to ascend the crane. This was the bird up and took it to WildCare (the non-profit that teaches tree climbing. JR breeding cycles, I can delay or take rebuilt over and over again - as well as such as a natural form of pest control. definitely going to be a first for me and I local wildlife hospital). The good news has been volunteering with the Hungry Just think about how rat and mice was looking forward to the challenge. was that they were able to remove the Owl Project’s Raptor Rescue & Reunite infestations could be far worse, causing string with no damage to the leg and the program since 2011, where he offers his destruction of property and spreading The weather was clear with blue sky, but osprey was reunited the very next day. I climbing skills to assist in returning diseases. it was one of those chilly/windy Bay just happened to go back there last fallen owls and hawks to their nests. We Area days when we arrived at the crane. week. The nest is still there and I saw the caught up with JR recently for a little HOP: What is it like being high up in a It turned out that the crane was right parents tearing apart a fish to feed the interview about his time working with tree with the birds? beside the old WWII ship museum and kids. They had even rebuilt the barricade HOP, rescuing raptors and the we had a great view of the bay and the in the ladder again only with more sticks importance of “wildlife-safe” tree work. JR: It’s been one of the best experiences ship - another plus. I met two other men this time. of my life. It’s that combination of there. One was the dock worker who HOP: How can we help arborists and having a skill and being able to use it for discovered the bird and the other was a

the public understand the importance of a higher purpose as well as being in a local amateur osprey enthusiast who practicing “wildlife safe” tree work? beautiful environment in the canopy of was familiar with handling the birds as Are you curious about what it’s like the trees. Peaceful and fulfilling. well as many of the local nests. There being up in a tree, reuniting raptors? JR: Probably, the easiest way is to actually wasn't any need for climbing Watch this video story about a hawk contact tree companies through email HOP: Do you have a good reunite story gear as the parents built the nest right on rescue, which includes a “point of view” and send them information directly you can share with us? top of a maintenance cat walk and we clip of JR reuniting Red Shouldered talking about being aware of "wildlife" had a network of ladders leading us right Hawk chicks at the top of a tree: in the trees and what to do when they JR: This one was actually a rescue of an to it. I did wear my harness with a http://ow.ly/O76a3037TwP encounter an animal. Like most osprey in Point Richmond. I had gotten lanyard just to clip into the railings in or visit: businesses, time is money, and when Red Shouldered Hawk - One of many raptor species JR encounters. a call that there was a young osprey that case the metal was weak or rusting away www.youtube.com/hungryowlproject tree guys find nests of birds or squirrels, Photo by George Eade was seen struggling to fly from its nest - in places.

4 www.hungryowl.org

We climbed the ladders until we were just under the maintenance platform, where we were blocked by loads of sticks. This was very interesting to me that the birds instinctively new that the ladder was a possible route for predators they need simple steps to follow to precautions in doing the tree work to and they built a barricade to prevent handle these situations and still benefit their survival. Not to mention anyone from reaching the nest! I spent complete the work. Another way is to our own safety as well. Infrequently we about five minutes breaking up and contact the Western Chapter will find raccoons nesting the trees and tossing sticks down below to ascend the International Society of Arboriculture its just best to leave them alone last five feet to the nest. When I finally here in California. They would be able completely, or risk getting attacked. reached the nest we were about 100ft up to send out information through their from the ground and the wind was network and would help to emphasize HOP: How did you connect with HOP blowing about 20mph. I immediately the importance of protecting wildlife as and start volunteering with the rescue saw the young bird trying to fly from the part of our industry standards. program? nest, opening its wings it would start to soar but was tethered by a 4 ft piece of HOP: Do you find it helpful to know a JR: My friend and fellow arborist, Jim twine. Apparently the parents had little natural history of the common Cairnes, who has been one of the woven into the nest a long piece of twine species you’re likely to encounter while original tree climbers for HOP, into the nest to hold it together but working in trees? For instance, by introduced me to the program and sometime after the baby hatched the contacting HOP, we are able to identify trained me on handling raptors in the twine wrapped around its leg and tied it the species and estimate a safe time for trees. to the nest! With the other two men the work to be completed. People don’t coming up behind me we had enough realize that it’s often simply a matter of HOP: Do you feel the work of reuniting hands and immediately captured the osprey and cut the string loose from the postponing work for a couple weeks birds is important? Great Horned Owl chicks in a substitute wicker basket nest. For cases where the nest while the birds complete their nesting has been destroyed, baskets can be used in their place. Photo by Maggie Rufo nest. When we went to unwrap the twine cycle and the young leave the nest. JR: Yes, I think it’s very important, from its leg we ran into a problem and found the the skin had actually started to especially in the heavily populated all the environmental hazards for which was built on the top of an old grow around the string. At that point we James “JR” Reed is a Fairfax based JR: Yes. For me, since I now know areas. There is so much human activity wildlife. Raptors keep nature in check WWII crane - and that I should be decided quickly that we were not arborist and the founder of the Tree more about Hawks and Owls and in and around cities and the landscape is and we need to ensure their survival if prepared to climb using ropes and qualified to do field surgery and boxed Monkey Project (treemonkeyfun.com), a understand the time periods of their always changing - being torn down and we want any semblance of balance - saddle to ascend the crane. This was the bird up and took it to WildCare (the non-profit that teaches tree climbing. JR breeding cycles, I can delay or take rebuilt over and over again - as well as such as a natural form of pest control. definitely going to be a first for me and I local wildlife hospital). The good news has been volunteering with the Hungry Just think about how rat and mice was looking forward to the challenge. was that they were able to remove the Owl Project’s Raptor Rescue & Reunite infestations could be far worse, causing string with no damage to the leg and the program since 2011, where he offers his destruction of property and spreading The weather was clear with blue sky, but osprey was reunited the very next day. I climbing skills to assist in returning diseases. it was one of those chilly/windy Bay just happened to go back there last fallen owls and hawks to their nests. We Area days when we arrived at the crane. week. The nest is still there and I saw the caught up with JR recently for a little HOP: What is it like being high up in a It turned out that the crane was right parents tearing apart a fish to feed the interview about his time working with tree with the birds? beside the old WWII ship museum and kids. They had even rebuilt the barricade HOP, rescuing raptors and the we had a great view of the bay and the in the ladder again only with more sticks importance of “wildlife-safe” tree work. JR: It’s been one of the best experiences ship - another plus. I met two other men this time. of my life. It’s that combination of there. One was the dock worker who HOP: How can we help arborists and having a skill and being able to use it for discovered the bird and the other was a the public understand the importance of a higher purpose as well as being in a local amateur osprey enthusiast who practicing “wildlife safe” tree work? beautiful environment in the canopy of was familiar with handling the birds as Are you curious about what it’s like the trees. Peaceful and fulfilling. well as many of the local nests. There being up in a tree, reuniting raptors? JR: Probably, the easiest way is to actually wasn't any need for climbing Watch this video story about a hawk contact tree companies through email HOP: Do you have a good reunite story gear as the parents built the nest right on rescue, which includes a “point of view” and send them information directly you can share with us? top of a maintenance cat walk and we clip of JR reuniting Red Shouldered talking about being aware of "wildlife" had a network of ladders leading us right Hawk chicks at the top of a tree: in the trees and what to do when they JR: This one was actually a rescue of an to it. I did wear my harness with a http://ow.ly/O76a3037TwP encounter an animal. Like most osprey in Point Richmond. I had gotten lanyard just to clip into the railings in or visit: businesses, time is money, and when a call that there was a young osprey that case the metal was weak or rusting away www.youtube.com/hungryowlproject tree guys find nests of birds or squirrels, was seen struggling to fly from its nest - in places.

www.hungryowl.org 5 The Nature of Owl Talk... (Continued from page 1)

People most commonly notice Great Joe Mueller is a biology professor at the Horned Owls after hearing them, but College of Marin, where he teaches when silent, they’re easy to miss. Owls ornithology (among many other courses). have evolved to be masters of Great Horned Owl chicks can produce Curious to learn more about owl calls? camouflage to elude detection from powerful begging calls to let their Joe will be a keynote speaker, further mobbing crows, jays and other pesky parents know they’re hungry. discussing owl calls, at TALONS: A birds. Photo by George Eade Photo by George Eade Festival Celebrating Birds of Prey.

6 www.hungryowl.org The Nature of Owl Talk... (Continued from page 1) Rescue Diaries... (Continued from page 8)

We call this type of reproductive isolation “behavioral isolation.” The hoot sound is a type of boundary indicator so that separate groups won’t mix their genetic information. Once reproductive isolation is established species are genetically separate from each other and evolutionary change can promptly excel. The female’s sexual selection behaviors—her choosiness about her mate--ensure that her suitors’ Photo by Linda Knight hoots will become stronger and stronger with each generation. Only the strong Stories started to come in... He was hooting males pass their genes on while found and rescued from falling in the the weaker individuals aren’t selected to water at the end of the street. An owl had mate. Thus, vocalizations not only been seen in the back yard of the original permit species recognition, but also property owner (however, the younger create the reproductive isolation that in Woo with a Hoo. To court the female this Long-eared Owl's vocal performance of more than 30 evenly spaced hoo notes can be heard up to a half a mile away. sibling had also recently left the nest so it turn promotes evolutionary change. Photo by Kurt Lindsay could’ve been that one). One night an owl, much to the home owner’s surprise, The female owl also relies on had attached itself to a screen door. vocalizations to judge her potential she’s found her mate. This process is bonds. This is especially important for Photo by Linda Knight Finally (and a few more grey hairs later), mate’s fitness. If his hoot is weak or what Darwin termed “sexual selection.” predatory animals that shop at the top of two young owls were observed perched limited, she knows he’s not the one for Given that mate selection comes down to the food web. In the long term, there up in a palm tree together in the back her. Much like the male peacock’s the sound of things, loud, frequent could be significant risks to the species Monitoring the nest at night is very yard. “Come and see them!” There they impressive tail feathers, a male owl’s hooting prevails in subsequent if dad wasn’t willing to stay home and important to make sure all is well. In this were, both safe and looking like real strong hoot lets a female owl know if generations of males both for his sake help raise the owlets. case we involved members of the Great Horned Owls. They had made it! and hers. neighborhood, who were more than From then, we were able to follow their There are a host of other reasons why delighted to help keep watch and report progress as they moved along the street Once the female has chosen her mate, owls vocalize that relate to raising their observations. Initially, all was going well (with their parents always close by). many owl species will sing a duet, calling young. Begging calls, contact calls, and as the parents were attending to both the back and forth for hours in the night. It’s location calls are the most common owl slightly younger chick in the original easy to distinguish the female owl’s sounds, occurring later in the nesting palm tree and our little rescue owl. vocalizations from her mate’s, since she season. In fact, one can hear the However, a few days later, my phone has the higher pitched voice. When it common shrieks of juvenile great rang again.. “the owl’s out of the comes to great horned owls, she’s the one horned owls all the way through to the basket!” I rushed over to find the little who often screams, wails, and even end of summer. A parent with food. Photo by Linda Knight fellow sitting in the neighbor’s driveway. shrieks. Researchers believe that the “Okay back to the basket you go.” I duets have evolved to assure strong pair In the Bay Area, we have five common found out that on his first exploration, species of nocturnal and crepuscular he’d made his first kill …an earth worm! owls that vocalize from November to Back in the basket and growing fast, the Photo by Holly Williams March. With lots of habitat diversity and next call came late at night from another open space, there’s ample opportunity to astonished neighbor across the street. They grew bigger every day. When the head out into the night to listen in on “There’s an owl looking at me through reports stopped coming in, I knew it was some owl talk. my kitchen window!” I assured her that good news. I was elated, but also a little what he was doing was natural at that sad. I was going to miss those owls. People most commonly notice Great Joe Mueller is a biology professor at the stage of development: exploring. He was Horned Owls after hearing them, but College of Marin, where he teaches getting stronger and testing his wings, when silent, they’re easy to miss. Owls ornithology (among many other courses). but was not yet ready to fly. have evolved to be masters of Great Horned Owl chicks can produce Visit www.hungryowl.org or use Curious to learn more about owl calls? camouflage to elude detection from powerful begging calls to let their Joe will be a keynote speaker, further I went searching for him several times, the included envelope to make a mobbing crows, jays and other pesky parents know they’re hungry. A parent with the younger sibling. discussing owl calls, at TALONS: A but didn’t find him. Clearly, he had tax deductible donation today to birds. Photo by George Eade Photo by George Eade Photo by Linda Knight Festival Celebrating Birds of Prey. learned to hide very well during the day. help HOP continue its work.

6 www.hungryowl.org www.hungryowl.org 7 WildCare Non-Pro t 76 Albert Park Ln US Postage San Rafael, CA 94901 PAID NEWSLETTER Sebastopol, CA Issue No. 1, 2016 Permit No. 1

HOP is a partnership with

Rescue Diaries: Bel Marin Keys Great Horned Owls By Alex Godbe, HOP Executive Director and Raptor Rescue Reunite Program Lead

Early in spring, HOP received the first call from WildCare (our partner organization). A Great Horned Owl chick, 3-4 weeks old, had been found under a very tall palm tree in Bel Marin Keys. The young owl - a ball of grey fluff with huge burning yellow eyes - had survived a 50’ fall. His sibling – who was not so lucky - had died on impact. A third sibling remained in a nest, which was made of a ring of old dead palm fronds that was found a third of the way In the substitute nest. up the tree. Photo by Linda Knight

the bird is healthy enough for the reunite. With medical clearance, the next step is to figure out the best way to approach the The fallen chick, prior to reunite. reunite. In this case, the nest was both Photo by Linda Knight unreachable and unsafe. Since Great Horned Owl owlets often find themselves on the ground or far from their nests (yet are still fed and cared for by the parents), we knew could safely put our youngster close by. With few trees to choose from we decided to use a laundry basket as a substitute nest. It was The original nest with sibling chick. placed low, in another tree, directly Photo by Linda Knight underneath and in view of the original nest, where the parent owls could keep a The Hungry Owl Project’s Raptor close watch. Rescue and Reunite team reunites young raptors with their parents as quickly as Substitute nest (right), original nest possible. However, this can only occur (Continued on page 7) (left). Photo by Linda Knight after WildCare’s medical staff find that