N. Pygmy-Owl(s) - American Fork Canyon

[Tim Avery <tanager at timaverybirding dot com>]

One of my friends said she wanted to see an owl, because she had never seen one
before.  So I promised I would try to help her before I left for the summer.
Tonight we went up American Fork Canyon around 8:00 pm.  I stopped several
times in the lower stretch and played Screech-Owl tapes, and did a Pygmy call,
but nothing called back.  Around 8:45 we ended up where the road split to go to
Mutual Dell (right) and Silver Creek (left), we headed left  about 150 yards?
maybe more to the first, day use area on the left.  There are several picnic
tables and firepits.  In any event, I first played the Screech-Owl and had no
response.  I then Walked into the trees and sat on a picnic table and started
doing a Pygmy Owl Call.  After the first 7 or 8 minuteds I was begining to
think it was hopeless when I heard a soft to-to-to-to-to-to-to-to, about 100
yards up the trail heading west from the picnic area.  After another 5 minutes
of Calling I had 3 separate Owls calling back.  One was across the stream to
the south, one was to the northeast up the mountain, and the one I heard first
was still going at it.  I grabbed my flashlight and we bagan to hike up the
trail, stopping and calling every 30 seconds.  Finally we got to a spot and the
Owl called from about 25 feet ahead in a large pine tree.  We got closer and I
called again, now almost directly beneath the bird.  I stopped and it called
several more times.  It was fairly high up, maybe 25-30 feet and I was trying
to get a bearing to get light on it.  Finally I shined the light, and after a
few seconds of scanning I spotted the lil fella flying off to the south.  At
which point the calling stopped and I couldn't get anymore to call from the
site.  Although my friend was unable to get a good look at the bird, she said
it was the funniest thing seeing me call and having the lil Owl call back.
Truly a memorable experience, and a fun evening.  Also this is the most
activity I have ever had form Pygmy-Owls calling back to my call, which was a
nice change from the normal Owling trips I take.

Good Birding

Tim
Salt Lake City, UT or Beloit, WI
http://www.timaverybirding.com

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