Last evening (April 21), I drove to Derby, Indiana where Barn Owls have been reported nesting in the steeple of an abandoned church. The church is undergoing renovation, and the contractor found a nest of owls in the steeple. Not knowing what kind they were, and knowing that some owls are endangered, he contacted the Department of Natural Resources, who positively identified them as Barn Owls. The contractor has left the opening in the steeple used by the owls, and after the young leave the nest, they will place a nesting box on the steeple in the hopes that the owls will use it next year.
Since Barn Owl would be a new Indiana bird, and I haven't seen them in the Midwest, I made the two-hour trip. Left home about 5:00 p.m. and arrived about 7:00 p.m. in the tiny town located on the banks of the Ohio River. On the way, I saw my first Chimney Swift of the year (year bird number 149) flying over a town I passed through. I ended up waiting about an hour and fifteen minutes before anything happened. Just at dark, I heard scuffling noises coming from inside the steeple, and through my binoculars, saw a ghostly white form moving inside. A few minutes later, both parents flew out on into the trees. I was only able to see their silhouettes as they flew over in the dusk. However, after they landed in the trees, they started screeching, and I was able to find them and get great looks with my flashlight. I could also see two of the young peeking out of the steeple when I shined my light up there. BARN OWL was Indiana state bird number 192 and year bird number 150.
And this morning, the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year (year bird number 151) made a brief appearance at my hummingbird feeder.
Posted by Birdingdave at April 22, 2004 09:46 PM