
I’ve been recording audio overnight from the deck here in Essex since August 26, 2017 when I purchased a recorder capable of recording all night, a Sound Devices MixPre-6 & Audio-technica BP4025 stereo mic. I start recording around 10pm and generally turn it off at 6am, starting earlier isn’t really an option with all of the traffic noise. This setup will make a Blue Jay calling 500′ away sound like it’s in the yard. I live in a commercial / residential neighborhood with a few good sized lakes close by, a few wet / swampy areas and lots of woods.
As we all know there are owls everywhere (well… almost) and apparently around my house in no exception.
Prior to starting this little project I’d occasionally hear a Screech / Barred or Great Horned once or twice a year at most. Now a month and a half later I’m finding the Barred Owls call almost any night it’s not raining or windy, rain seems to keep all critters tucked away making for a very quiet night. The Owls may still call on windy nights but I can’t hear it if they do over the wind / leaf noise.
I’ve also learned that all three Owls may call together having recorded a Screech calling with a Barred and a Great Horned chiming in, something I was fairly certain wouldn’t happen to keep the smaller Owls from becoming a meal.
Here’s a list of the Owls and the dates I’ve recorded them starting on August 26, 2017. I try to record every night barring heavy rain or high winds.
2017
Barred Owl
August 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
September 2, 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,
October 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29
November 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 30
December 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 12, 15
Great Horned Owl
August 26
September 24
October 3, 9, 15
November 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15, 20, 23, 26, 27, 30
December 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08, 10, 11, 16
Screech Owl
August 26, 29
September 19, 24
October 1, 2, 3, 11, 16, 19, 28, 29
November 1, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 22
December 09, 12
Saw-whet Owl
September 9
October 13, 17
2017 ended with my visiting Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary outside of Naples, FL the week before Xmas and then many days and nights with single digit temps and high winds. 2018 started out the same way with the night of January 4th the 1st night worth trying to record. It’s 5 degrees out as I type this on the 6th, we’ll have to wait and see how 2018 progresses for Owls calling in the neighborhood.
2018
Barred Owl
January 10, 11, 21, 22
February 9, 12, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28
March 01, 06, 12, 26, 27, 28, 29
April 02, 08, 09, 10, 11, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30
May 01, 02, 03, 06 – vacation 5/06 – 5/19 -, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31
June 02, 03, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 22, 24, 26
July 08, 12, 14, 28, 30
August 01, 05, 06, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26
September 01, 02, 03, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30
October 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31
November 01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 12, 17, 20, 30
December 01, 03, 04, 06, 09, 10, 11, 14, 15, 20, 23, 29, 30
Great Horned Owl
January 4, 17, 22, 29
February 5, 6, 9, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
March 01, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
April 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30
May 01, 06 – vacation 5/06 – 5/19 -, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29, 31
June 02, 03, 06, 10, 18, 24, 26, 27
July 07, 19, 26, 30, 31
August 04, 16, 17, 26, 27, 28, 31
September 01, 08, 14, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30
October 01, 06, 07, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31
November 01, 04, 05, 09, 11, 12, 15, 28,30
December 01, 09, 20, 25
Screech Owl
January 4, 17
February 23
May 25
June 02, 06
July 19
August 24
September 01, 10, 21, 23, 29
October 04, 13, 17, 18, 19, 23, 26, 27
November 19, 21, 22, 29
December 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 30
Saw-whet Owl
November 05
December 28
2019
Barred Owl
January 04, 09, 19, 23
February 05, 23, 24
March 09, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31
April 01, 02, 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29
May 01, 03, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30
June 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 09, 10, 12, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28
July 03, 08, 10, 11, 14, 16, 19, 26, 28
August 05, 07, 09, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30
September 01, 02, 03, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
October 01, 02, 05, 06, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27
November 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 17, 21, 25, 26, 27
December 08, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28
Great Horned Owl
January 06, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 23, 26
February 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 10, 20, 22, 23, 27
March 01, 02, 03, 07, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30
April 01, 02, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 25, 28, 29
May 01, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19
June 04, 07, 15, 29
July 01, 04, 05, 16, 24, 25
August 02, 05, 10, 11, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31
September 01, 05, 06, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
October 01, 02, 05, 06, 08, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29
November 02, 03, 04, 05 07, 09, 10, 11, 15, 23, 24, 26
December 08, 13, 17, 22, 25, 29
Screech Owl
January 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 20, 21, 23
April 22
June 01
August 12, 19, 21, 25, 27
September 02, 03, 06, 26, 28
October 06, 07, 09, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 25, 27
November 03, 07, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 26, 29, 30
December 01, 04, 07, 12, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 29
Saw-whet Owl
January 05
March 02
Barn Owl
November 07 – a flyover Barn Owl which called twice. A real rarity for northern Massachusetts with their northern range limited by cold temperature. Martha’a Vineyard appears to be their northern limit.
The recording was accepted by eBird.
2020
Barred Owl
January 02, 04, 23, 25, 30
February 12, 17, 22, 29
March 08, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28
April 01, 06, 07, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30
May 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
June 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 27
July 01, 02, 03 – almost a 2 week hiatus for heat, a/c and rain, 15, 16, 17, 25
August 07, 08, 09, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31
September 01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29
October 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 31
November 01, 03, 07, 08, 09, 11, 14, 15, 17, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30
December 02, 09, 10, 12, 14, 22, 23
Great Horned Owl
January 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, 11, 14, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 31
February 09, 11, 12, 22, 25, 29
March 03, 05, 08, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 22, 25, 28
April 06, 07, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 25
May 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 21, 27
June 01, 02, 17, 18
August 06, 07, 14, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 31
September 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30
October 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 29
November 01, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30
December 02, 03, 04, 07, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30
Screech Owl
January 06, 18, 21, 23
February 01, 11, 12, 14
July 15, 16
August 14, 16, 23
September 02, 03, 04, 09, 11, 12, 15, 24
October 02, 03, 05, 06, 09, 14, 15, 19, 26, 30, 31
November 03, 19
Saw-whet Owl
2021
Barred Owl
January 12, 13, 22, 23
February 05, 22, 26, 27
March 04, 11, 12, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30
April 03, 04, 06, 07, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
May 02, 03, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 31
June 01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 25, 26
July 04, 05, 07, 11, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
August 01, 03, 04, 11, 14, 16, 17, 21, 23, 26, 29, 30, 31
September 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27
October 01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24
November 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 13, 17, 21, 25, 26
December 05, 07, 10, 14, 15, 21, 29
Great Horned Owl
January 01, 05, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 25, 26
February 05, 06, 08, 09, 12, 24, 26, 27, 28
March 02, 03, 07, 08, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30
April 08, 10, 20, 24, 26, 27
May 03, 08, 10, 13
June 02
August 14, 25, 29, 31
September 01, 04, 07, 08, 17, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 29
October 01, 02, 05, 06, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
November 01, 02, 03, 04, 07, 08, 09, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 25, 28
December 04, 05, 07, 10, 18, 28, 29, 31
Screech Owl
February 08
April 25
June 18
October 06
Saw-whet Owl
2022
Barred Owl
January 27, 28
February 01, 07, 11, 12, 13, 16, 24, 25
March 01, 03, 04, 05, 09, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27
April 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 10, 12, 13, 5, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30
May 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31
June 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26. 27, 28, 29, 30
July 01, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 26, 27, 31
August 01, 02, 04, 06, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21
Great Horned Owl
January 07, 09, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20, 23
February 02, 06, 07, 10, 11, 13, 15, 19, 22, 27
March 05, 08, 09, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 27
April 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 22, 23, 29
May 18
July 17, 28
August 01, 02, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20
Screech Owl
April 18
Saw-whet Owl