Burrowing Owl & Shrike

Time for a brief respite from the wetlands. On our way south from Wakodahatchee and Green Cay, we stopped in the Fort Lauderdale area for a brief visit to Brian Piccolo Park. This is 180 acre recreational park with picnic areas, ball field, tennis courts, and more.

It is also home Burrowing Owls. The burrows are marked with stakes and ropes. We found six or seven by driving around slowly. A pair were perched by the entrance to one burrow. In a couple of others, I could see (from a distance, so as not to disturb the birds) owl eyes looking out at me.

Burrowing Owls

I found it remarkable that these birds could coexist with people and their recreational activities, but apparently they manage.

The park also provided the opportunity to carefully observe a pair of Loggerhead Shrikes as they went about their pre-nuptial activities. He brought insects to her as a demonstration of his ability to provide for her offspring - and hopefully his offspring as well.

Loggerhead Shrike

Loggerhead Shrike

Good Birding !!

Western Birds III - Raptors

My western travels yielded several raptors. Among those which also provided photo ops, three were particular treats.

In a large prairie dog colony in Badlands NP, I had several opportunities to watch this Burrowing Owl. It uses old burrows for its nest. As I took a few steps closer, it flew a short distance, and then disappeared into a burrow. It popped back into view and posed ,,,

Burrowing Owl

Also in Badlands NP, I stopped to look at a hawk perched on a fence post. For a change, the aging mental computer quickly listed and eliminated possibilities, leaving only a hawk with which I am not terribly familiar. I announced to the car, "Ferruginous Hawk."

Ferruginous Hawk

In the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in Yellowstone NP, I had the treat of looking down on an Osprey nest built atop a rocky pinnacle. Though safe from most predators, the parent kept a vigilant watch over the 3 young chicks ...

Osprey