Learn About a Barn Owlet and Other Birds’ Calls

Since Naturalist Marianne’s presentations have been canceled for the time being (we are eagerly looking forward to when we can resume her Wildlife Presentations), around 7am daily, she is posting a “Nature Note” to the Naturalist Marianne Facebook Page. We’re sharing them on the Russell Lands On Lake Martin Facebook page, too.

These are short, daily tidbits that parents can start the day giving their kids for a look about the natural world. She is doing this with either photos or videos and may include a link for “extended activity.” According to Marianne, “this is intended as a brief science lesson appropriate across multiple age groups.” Here’s one of her latest Nature Notes:

Bird Sounds

They aren’t always what you’d expect! That raspy, hissing noise you hear in the video below is this BARN OWLET that I found. This one didn’t have any siblings, and I found it in a deer stand – a common place to find barn owls. This time of year, a deer stand is kind of like an abandoned treehouse, so it gives the barn owl just what it needs: a flat floor to lay eggs on, and a roof to keep the rain out. Owls don’t build their own nests. If you ever see one in a nest made of sticks, that’s one they have swiped from another bird like a hawk, osprey, eagle, or crow!

I looked at this owlet and took a few quick pictures and videos before leaving it alone – it’s not legal (nor is it a good idea) to bother these birds on purpose or remove them from their nesting area. I know mom was nearby and taking good care of the owlet because it was healthy and strong.

Listen to this recording and then go outside and see how many different types of birds you can hear. If you have a lot of trees nearby, I don’t think you’ll hear an owl but THIS is a bird I think you might hear today:

You can learn to identify nearby birds just based on hearing their calls. You don’t even need to SEE them to know they’re there. No other bird sounds like the Barn Owl, and no other bird sounds quite like that Red-Eyed Vireo recording above!

Take a quiz

Here is a resource with some good bird song audio. The bird song plays and then gives you clues and then finally a picture of the bird you’re hearing. By learning these bird sounds one at a time, before you know it, you’ll be able to recognize many different voices coming from the trees:

Do you have a favorite? Marianne posted a video of my favorite bird call in the comments of the Facebook post. See if you can identify the species. HINT: they are found all around Lake Martin and like to make their nest on top of a tree or pole that’s IN the lake.