Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 08:14:43 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Bowie Barred Owl I had an exciting early morning owl prowl in a dense area of second growth pine woods near the Bowie Landfill (MD 3 and MD 450). I had seen an owl roosting in this patch of woods about 2 years ago and decided to go back and see if I could find any signs of an owl in this general vicinity. I got out into the woods a little after 6:00, and although I didn't see see anything in the specific area of the previous sighting, I did hear a frantic group of crows mobbing something nearby. Following the commotion, I found a group of 7 or 8 crows dive bombing a tree. I then briefly saw a Barred Owl lift out of the tree and fly deeper into the woods to escape the crows. I waited quietly near the tree hoping for the owl to return. When it didn't, I quietly hiked through the woods hoping to get a better look at the owl. After about fifteen minutes, I heard the crows again. After tracking them down, I again saw the Barred Owl flying off, hoping to escape the harrassment. I got a great look at the flight profile of the bird as it flew over the pines and back into the woods. Fred Shaffer Crofton,MD PamthePT@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================