Three Short-eared Owls were first seen on Sunday (2/22) along Buckeye Road (Larimer CR82) near the Rawhide Power Plant. These owls were first seen about 4:30pm perched on roadside poles about 3.9 miles west of I-25 (Exit 288). After 5pm they began to hunt south of the road in tall, tan grass and one was seen eating a vole just beyond the fenceline on the south side of Buckeye Road. This area south of the road is marked by three, low, square, camo-pattern goose blinds. Once, one of the owls actually landed on the middle blind.
On Monday (2/23) the owls were spotted by Ken Pals at 2:30 roosting amid a cluster of tall rabbitbrush shrubs near the 1599 Buckeye Road mailbox. This point is about 4.2 miles west of I-25. The owls flushed up on a pole and wire above this mailbox, where they apparently remained until almost 6pm.
Last night (2/24) several people had both ends of the activity zone staked out. No owls were seen until well after sundown (6:10 or so). Barely visible, at least one owl was confirmed flying amid human structures (houses, outbuildings, white tank, and a blue barn with gray roof) on a private road marked "No Trespassing" on the south side of Buckeye Road west of Buddy Rooster Lane (this area is about 3.7 miles west of I-25). At one point I saw three big birds on fence posts along that "No Trespassing" road but cannot say for certain they were owls or harriers, but owls would seem more likely. Needless to say, nobody was satisfied with the looks they got, or almost got, last night.
Three days, three very different activity schedules, all within an area south of Buckeye road from 3.5 to 4.2 miles west of I-25. My guess would be the weather this evening will suppress owl activity altogether and searching would not be worth it.
My guess is also that the snow we are supposed to get tonight MIGHT put them back along Buckeye Road in search of rodents on Thursday (2/26) evening, if it's not too windy. Just a guess.
I would also point out the few folks who live south of Buckeye Road in a scattered "development" of sorts probably live there in part to avoid people. Birder cars seemed to get them curious last night as they passed by and returned to their homes after work, and I would not be surprised if owl seekers get asked what they are doing at some point. Obviously, birders should stay on Buckeye Road, not jump fences, not go down any of the private roads. The Rawhide Power Plant property north of the road has not had any owl activity that I know of and is populated by bison and under constant video surveillance.
Also, I should mention the Visitor Overlook on the south side of Hamilton Reservoir (south of the power plant, proper) has NOT been open any of the last three nights and it will probably remain closed if they get any more snow tonight.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
On Monday (2/23) the owls were spotted by Ken Pals at 2:30 roosting amid a cluster of tall rabbitbrush shrubs near the 1599 Buckeye Road mailbox. This point is about 4.2 miles west of I-25. The owls flushed up on a pole and wire above this mailbox, where they apparently remained until almost 6pm.
Last night (2/24) several people had both ends of the activity zone staked out. No owls were seen until well after sundown (6:10 or so). Barely visible, at least one owl was confirmed flying amid human structures (houses, outbuildings, white tank, and a blue barn with gray roof) on a private road marked "No Trespassing" on the south side of Buckeye Road west of Buddy Rooster Lane (this area is about 3.7 miles west of I-25). At one point I saw three big birds on fence posts along that "No Trespassing" road but cannot say for certain they were owls or harriers, but owls would seem more likely. Needless to say, nobody was satisfied with the looks they got, or almost got, last night.
Three days, three very different activity schedules, all within an area south of Buckeye road from 3.5 to 4.2 miles west of I-25. My guess would be the weather this evening will suppress owl activity altogether and searching would not be worth it.
My guess is also that the snow we are supposed to get tonight MIGHT put them back along Buckeye Road in search of rodents on Thursday (2/26) evening, if it's not too windy. Just a guess.
I would also point out the few folks who live south of Buckeye Road in a scattered "development" of sorts probably live there in part to avoid people. Birder cars seemed to get them curious last night as they passed by and returned to their homes after work, and I would not be surprised if owl seekers get asked what they are doing at some point. Obviously, birders should stay on Buckeye Road, not jump fences, not go down any of the private roads. The Rawhide Power Plant property north of the road has not had any owl activity that I know of and is populated by bison and under constant video surveillance.
Also, I should mention the Visitor Overlook on the south side of Hamilton Reservoir (south of the power plant, proper) has NOT been open any of the last three nights and it will probably remain closed if they get any more snow tonight.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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