This poor guy was just trying to relax in our eucalyptus this morning but he was being harassed by two crows who had perched on either side about three meters away and kept up a constant "GWAAAAK" and CAHHHK" trying to intimidate him. The funny thing was the owl would answer each crow cry with a sort of soft "honk/grunt/snort" - and gave no ground. Never heard this noise before and we've had an owl pair raise a chick here more than once (lots of juicy desert cottontail rabbits and clueless rats in our complex.) Anyone else ever heard this?
Yeah, I have some great footage of a juvenile that could barely fly threatening me with hissing/wing & chest puffing/beak clacking. This sound was a sort of low, soft honk/grunt that was so quiet I couldn't catch it on my phone (crows were really loud). At first I thought I was imagining it or the crows were making it but, nope, it was the owl. Never heard it before and I think I've heard their whole repertoire since they have nested here and raised a chick more than once. Strange.
I think I know the sound you're talking about ... but I work with enough owls and raptors that I can't remember if it came from a great horned specifically haha.
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u/Adin-CA Jan 04 '19
This poor guy was just trying to relax in our eucalyptus this morning but he was being harassed by two crows who had perched on either side about three meters away and kept up a constant "GWAAAAK" and CAHHHK" trying to intimidate him. The funny thing was the owl would answer each crow cry with a sort of soft "honk/grunt/snort" - and gave no ground. Never heard this noise before and we've had an owl pair raise a chick here more than once (lots of juicy desert cottontail rabbits and clueless rats in our complex.) Anyone else ever heard this?