Wildlife
Time to get up…the tea-kettle is whistling!
Civil twilight is now shortly before 5:00 AM, and for some reason this past week, the sound of the first robin and the soon to follow chorus of the other birds seemed much louder than normal. Perhaps that is because some of our migrants, like the orioles, have arrived and their added and different songs make the entire ensemble more symphonic in volume. What caught my ear on this morning was the incessant call or song of our resident Carolina Wrens. Known to be loud anyway, that “tea-kettle…tea-kettle …tea-kettle” call seemed to drown out all the others this day, and made me don my slippers and step outside to see what they were up to.
Dazzle them with March dance steps and fancy flight!
The first days of spring on Cape Cod always seem to be more winter-like than not. There is the occasional teaser, a beautiful sunny day when temperatures rise into the upper 50s, but for the most part Cape springs are influenced by the surrounding cold water temperatures, which linger on after winter. However, the seasonal signs or events of spring are usually evident by the end of March and into early April. One of the most enjoyable of these experiences is the mating flight display of the male American Woodcock.
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The Great Horned Owl
The cold, clear and crisp nights of early February on Cape Cod provide for some amazing star gazing, and for those who venture out, it is also a time when the hooting of the great horned owl can be heard at its best. This is the time of year when these owls are in the midst of their courtship. In fact, these owls are among the earliest of nesters and by the end of the month nests will likely be built, and eggs will be laid.
The great horned owl is found throughout North America. It is our largest owl having tufted ears, and stands about 18 to 25 inches tall with a wing span up to 55 inches in length. While coloration can vary somewhat, the owl is recognized by heavy barring of the feathers beneath and it has a conspicuous white throat bib. They appear to have no neck, and the feathers of its large facial disc may be orange in color with white feathers that form a V between its yellow eyes with large black pupils.
Contrary to popular belief, great horned owls cannot rotate their head completely around, but can rotate their head about 270°. This head movement compensates for there fixed eyes which cannot move up and down or side to side, yet their eyesight is very keen and they can see in almost dark conditions.
