The Long-eared Owl has been seen twice in the past week, both times
flying across Wimer Mountain Road from the woods near the West
Virginia line to the patch of trees where it was first seen. I heard
it calling from the woods on Sunday night. Unfortunately the wooded
area is posted and the owners do not allow access. My property ends
just into the edge of the woods, and as readers of this list serve
know, I allow access to birders. If anyone wants to go looking for
the owl please obey the posted signs on the neighbor's property. It
has been just a matter of luck that the bird has been seen flying
across the road.
We have had a terrible problem with bears this summer. They not only
have broken all of my seed feeders, this past week they destroyed all
eight of my hummingbird feeders, including one that was so high I
can't believe they were able to reach it. Someone suggested that
maybe one stood on another's shoulders. Sometimes I wonder! They
came onto the deck and got by grandchildren's soccer ball, and I found
it in the yard with a big hole bitten in it. Now that was really
annoying. On Saturday morning, we found paw prints on the car
windows. I was glad there was no food in the car. I have decided
that it is best just to stop all bird feeding for the time being. I
tried just putting some sunflower seeds out in the daytime, but the
bears come then, too. Anybody have any suggestions?
Margaret O'Bryan
