Dec. 6, 2002 Shelby Co. Bartlett, TN It was 3:20 this morning and I found myself suddenly awake, not startled, but wide awake like someone had gently shook me and whispered, "listen". A Great Horned Owl was softly calling from a favored perch that is familiar to me, as it is just a few yards from my window. It was a sound that had left my nights many years ago, while all the building went on that filled every nook and cranny with houses. Fortunately, my 2 acres and 120 year old house are snuggled between a 7 acre track and a 4 acre track, each with individual homes that were already in place and most likely will never be subdivided. The Great Horned Owls had disappeared many years back, but 4 years ago a Screech Owl came to call and I occasionally see it perched over my drive at night. About three years ago this Great Horned couple appeared and they always start their courtship about this time each year; the renewal of their vows. I'll get use to this wooing shortly but I will probably awake each night for some time and listen to this wonderful talk of love by these two beautiful creatures. I have heard all types of vocalizations from them, including the human like whistles that Ben Coffey had once told me about. The source of which had baffled him for some time on his night time recording sessions. I've even probably made many of these same noises myself in similar circumstances. :O))) Anyway, it is always a hoot when these two start wooing anew............. Good Birding!!! Jeff R. Wilson OL' COOT / TLBA Bartlett Tenn. =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================