Podcasts about eastern screech owl

Screech-owls are opportunistic diners. In the Pacific Northwest, they'll prey on small birds, crayfish, large ants, or earthworms. In Arizona, pocket mice and pack rats. And in Ohio, biologists who noticed a fishy smell around Eastern Screech-Owl nest boxes found the remains of dozens of shad. It's clear that screech-owls may be a consistent nocturnal predator on fish, especially in cooler months, when other prey are dormant. Gotta feed those hungry owlets!More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

A small bird with a big personality --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/followfox/support

Debbie Helsel, Executive Director of the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge, brings along Luna, an Eastern Screech Owl, to invite everyone to their Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show fundraiser coming up on September 7, 2024. Tickets are on sale now! She also updates us on the status of their construction project for their new facility. To get your tickets to the Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show fundraiser, or to report an injured wild animal, go to www.btnwildlife.org or call (407) 568-5138.

The trees are damp with an overnight rain, and with each gust of wind "rain" falls from the trees to the ground. Red-eyed Vireos, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and Ovenbirds sing while Blue Jays call and a quiet and mysterious Eastern Screech-Owl makes rare daytime vocalizations. Recorded on a Zoom F3 field recorder with a matched pair of SO.1 microphones at Ruigrok Tract, Haldimand County, Ontario on May 26, 2024. Support Songscapes by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songscapes This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songscapes.

Daisy Fiore coordinates the education programming for the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida, and she brings along Sanford, a 13-year-old Eastern Screech Owl who resides at the center to talk about their upcoming Baby Owl Shower to raise funds to offset increased costs incurred during baby season. Baby season is their busiest season for bird care, sometimes caring for over 100 young birds in May alone! The fun takes place on Saturday, May 11th, 2024, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and is FREE with an item from their general wishlist or Amazon wishlist. Learn more at cbop.audubon.org or call 407-644-0190.

Wednesday – Conversations about a person's weight should be approached cautiously while at work. Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell on his family tradition of date-night at the airport. Debbie Helsel, Executive Director for Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge brings Luna an Eastern Screech Owl in for Animal House, leading to Jim wanting a pet owl. Rauce Thoughts on not unravelling the mysteries of life. Plus, WOKE News, Trivia & Last Call.

Debbie Helsel is the Executive Director of the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge in Orange County, Florida, and today she brought along Luna, an Eastern Screech Owl, and Hang Ten, a Gopher Tortoise. Debbie shares what types of animals they are rescuing and the impact Florida's increasing development is having on wildlife. She also talks about their upcoming reopening and plans for their 35th birthday. To learn more, go to www.btnwildlife.org or call (407) 568-5138.

Laura is a birder, artist, and more!Find out more about Eastern Screech-Owl.Connect with me on Twitter, email, or website.  Brazil Birding trip for Women!Eastern Screech-OwlIngredients1 ½ oz citrus vodka4 oz grapefruit juice½ oz grenadineiceDirections1.       Fill glass with ice, vodka, and juice2.       Add grenadine on top

Wednesday – Who should make social media safer for kids, politicians or social media companies. We get the County-by-County results for STDs in Florida, so we discuss. Dr. Daisy Fiore brings Billy Owlish, the Eastern Screech Owl for Animal House. Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell on corporate subsidies aka corporate welfare. Rauce Thoughts on receiving compliments. Plus, WOKE News, Trivia & Last Call.

Dr. Daisy Fiore joins us from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida, and brings along Billy Owlish, an Eastern Screech Owl, one of their ambassador birds. Daisy shares some fascinating facts about owls, from their serrated feathers to help with silent flight, to their exceptionally long legs. She also encourages school groups of all kinds to take advantage of their education packages. To meet Billy and more, go to www.cbop.audubon.org or call (407) 644-0190.

Click to listen to episode (5:44). Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 12-26-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of December 25, 2023, and January 1, 2024. MUSIC – ~13 sec – instrumental. That's part of “The Foggy Dew” by Timothy Seaman.  It's one of the songs heard on Virginia Water Radio in 2023, and it opens our annual episode where we listen back to some of the previous year's sounds and music.  We start with a medley of mystery sounds.  Have a listen for about 40 seconds, and see how many you recognize. SOUNDS - ~39 sec. 1.  Eastern Narrrow-mouthed Toad.2.  Humpback Whale.3.  Hooded Merganser.4.  Cascades waterfall.5.  Gray Tree Frogs, an Eastern Screech Owl, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and Wood Thrush. If you knew all of most of those, you're a 2023 authentic aquatic ace! You heard, first, an Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad; second; a Humpback Whale; third, a Hooded Merganser; fourth, the Cascades Falls in Giles County, Virginia; and, last, the sounds of Gray Tree Frogs, an Eastern Screech Owl, an Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a Wood Thrush, all recorded at a pond in Blacksburg, Va., at sundown on July 27, 2023. Thanks to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and to Lang Elliott for permission to use this week's sounds, from the 2008 CD, “The Calls of Virginia Frogs and Toads”; to the National Park Service for the Humpback Whale Sound; and to Lang Elliott for permission to use the Hooded Merganser sound, from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs. We close out 2023 with a 1 minute/45 second sample of music heard this year, with parts of “I Walk in Beauty,” by the late Madeline MacNeil; “Driftage,” by Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand; “Frog Level Yacht Club,” by Trevor McKenzie; “Backburner,” by the group The Faux Paws; and, last, “World's Too Big,” by Kat Mills, whose lyrics help us look toward the coming year.  Thanks to all the musicians who gave permission to use their music, and thanks to Janita Baker for permission to use Madeline MacNeil's music. So long to 2023, and here's hoping for a 2024 the brings to your ears, good sounds; to your heart, good music; and to your health, good water. MUSIC – ~1 min./43 sec. 1.  From “I Walk in Beauty” – lyrics: “Beauty is behind me, above and below me.” 2. From “Driftage” – instrumental. 3.  From “Frog Level Yacht Club” – lyrics: “I know it's fantasy and my plays tricks on my memory, but that's how I recall the Frog Level Yacht Club.” 4.  From “Backburner” – lyrics: “I put my heart in the freezer, I put my love on ice, I tell myself I don't need her, wouldn't that be nice?  I put  my heart in the freezer, I put my love on hold, I tell myself I don't need her, and then I wonder why I feel so cold.  I wonder why I feel, I wonder why I feel, I wonder why I feel so cold.” 5.  From “World's Too Big” – lyrics: “World's too big to see in one lifetime; what do you think you'll do this year in the world, world, world, in the world?” SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Ben Cosgrove for his version of “Shenandoah” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (2 min./22 sec.) of the “Shenandoah” arrangement/performance by Ben Cosgrove that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Cosgrove is available online at http://www.bencosgrove.com. Sounds Used and Their Previous 2023 Virginia Water Radio Episodes  (listed in the order heard in this episode's audio). The sounds of the Eastern Narrrow-mouthed Toad was from “The Calls of Virginia Frogs and Toads” CD, copyright 2008 by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (now the Department of Wildlife Resources) and Lang Elliott/NatureSoundStudio, used with permission.   The CD accompanies A Guide to the Frogs and Toads of Virginia, Special Publication Number 3, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; that publication is no longer available at Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources online store, https://www.shopdwr.com/.  For more information, contact the Department at P.O. Box 90778, Henrico, VA 23228-0778; phone: (804) 367-1000 (VTDD); main Web page is https://dwr.virginia.gov/; to send e-mail, visit https://dwr.virginia.gov/contact/.  Lang Elliott's work is available online at the “Music of Nature” Web site, http://www.musicofnature.org/.  This sound was used in Episode 649, 2-20-23, a medley of frog and toad calls. The Humpback Whale sound was from the National Park Service ‘Sound Gallery,” online at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/sounds-humpback-whale.htm, as of 12-22-23.  This sound was used in Episode 651, 3-20-23, on ocean and  marine biodiversity. The Hooded Merganser sound was from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs-Eastern Region CD set, by Lang Elliott with Donald and Lillian Stokes (Time Warner Audio Books, copyright 1997), used with permission of Lang Elliott.  Lang Elliot's work is available online at the “Music of Nature” Web site, http://www.musicofnature.org/.  This sound was used in Episode 670, 12-11-23, a duck names quiz. 4.  The waterfall sound was recorded by Virginia Water Radio at the Cascades waterfall in Giles County, Va., on September 28, 2023.  This sound was used in Episode 666, 10-16-23, on waterfalls in Virginia. 5.  The sounds of Gray Tree Frogs, an Eastern Screech Owl, and an Eastern Wood-Pewee, with the less prominent sounds of a Wood Thrush, were recorded by Virginia Water Radio at a pond in Blacksburg, Va., at about 8:30 p.m. on July 27, 2023.  These sounds were used in Episode 661, 8-7-23, on the sounds between dawn and dusk on a summer day at a Virginia pond. Musical Selections Used and Their Previous 2023 Virginia Water Radio Episodes (listed in the order heard in this episode's audio)

In this episode Kristen surprises Maeve with an episode about Maeve's favorite bird, the Eastern Screech Owl. They learned so many interesting facts about this cute, tiny, and effective predatory bird. The Eastern Screech Owl is native to the eastern portion of the United States, nests in holes in trees, and is so well camouflaged that you may have seen one and did not even know! We will be taking a break for some of winter and will return sometime in the spring. In the meantime, please continue to write in with your stories and requests. We love you all! Eastern Screech Owl Come learn with us about the Common Raven.  Research for today's episode came from the following sources:  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/lifehistory https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/eastern-screech-owl https://www.hawkmountain.org/raptors/eastern-screech-owl Additional Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi5ry3AZje8 Video from Auburn University Raptor Center - get up close with two individuals one of each color Eastern Screech owls hanging out in trees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snmhUoTSsP0 Fast Facts about Eastern Screech Owls - Brookfield Zoo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDBwVJloiRU Follow us on Instagram: @birdfactspod Email us: birdfactspod@gmail.com Twitter: @birdfactspod Thanks for listening, and happy birding!

Join host Debaran Kelso as we explore the fascinating world of screech owls! Renowned ecologist Dr. Carl Safina is our guest, speaking about his most recent book Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe, which describes his family's raising of an orphaned Eastern Screech Owl and how this changed their lives. (Airdate: December 13, 2023) Learn more:Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe by Carl SafinaCarl Safina's websiteThe Cornell Lab of Ornithology Nature Now is created by a dedicated team of volunteers. If you enjoy this episode and want to support the work that goes into making Nature Now, we invite you to go to kptz.org/donate to make a contribution. Thank you for your support!

[EN/ES] 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep sounds featuring the autumn Niobrara River landscape depicted in Episode 76: A Portrait of Nature along the Niobrara River. Soothing river noises blend with the voices of crickets and other nocturnal insects, and an eastern screech-owl (Megascops asio) gives its beautiful whinny. Sounds recorded by me, Shane Sater. 10 horas de sonidos de la naturaleza para dormir, sin interrupción. Se presentan algunos sonidos del paisaje otoñal del Río Niobrara retratados en Episodio 75: Un Relato de la Naturaleza cerca del Río Niobrara. Los sonidos relajantes del río se mezclan con las voces de los grillos y otros insectos nocturnos mientras se escucha el relincho lindo de un tecolote del este (Megascops asio). Los sonidos fueron grabados todos por mí, Shane Sater.

Did you know that Herpetology (study of frogs, snakes, newts and many more!) is a crossroads to falconry? I didn't either! But it was for our guest today, Kenny Elvin. In 2022, Kenny gave a talk to the Bay Area Herpetology group if you want to learn more about the falconry/herpetology connection!  https://youtu.be/zMg_lzlYhiQ?si=KWVqZkv2ASyWQGci Our guest today is Kenny Elvin of Full Circle Falconry. He flies his raptors for groups and events around the state of California, not only for education of raptors but also for wildlife management. He is also known as King Mighty Flighty at local Renaissance Faires! I had the pleasure of meeting with Kenny in person to meet a few of his birds thanks to a friend and co-worker, Lisa Villasenor in Los Gatos for this interview. We had great fun and good conversation, though it is easy to get distracted and lose your train of thought when you have a beautiful Eastern Screech Owl and a Peregrine Falcon close by!  But I think we did ok and the interview is informative, casual and fun. I hope you all enjoy it!  Kenny can be found October 28th at Sanborn County Park in Santa Clara with Lisa Myers of Los Gatos Birdwatcher at a special Raptor Event and Workshop. See below for more information: Pictures of our meeting can be found in the shownotes at www.beprovided.com.

Daisy Fiore, Senior Coordinator of Education at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, brings along ‘Billy Owlish,' an Eastern Screech-Owl, the smallest species of owl that lives in Florida. She shares how trimming trees right now can be detrimental during nesting season, and the different species of owls that live in our trees. Daisy also invites everyone to their Baby Owl Shower on Saturday, May 13th, 2023, to offset increased costs incurred during baby season, their busiest season for bird care. Check out their general wishlist or Amazon wishlist at www.cbop.audubon.org or call (407) 644-0190.

Katie Warner, Center Director, and Daisy Fiore, Senior Education Coordinator at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, introduce us to Sanford, an Eastern Screech Owl. Daisy talks about how at only 3 inches tall and about the weight of half a banana, Sanford is one of the smallest birds in their care, but also one of the oldest at 11 years. Katie invites everyone to vote for Sanford, who's made it to the finals for the Superb Owl Contest! Cast your vote at https://www.bonusfinder.com/about-us/blog/the-superb-owl-awards. To learn more about the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, go to chop.Audubon.org or call (407) 644-0190.

Wednesday – Have you ever wanted to walk around the sewer system? Will medical breakthroughs outperform climate disaster. Daisy Fiore and Katie Warner from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey brought Sanford, an Eastern Screech Owl in for the Animal House. Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell on the battle between Gov. Desantis and Florida colleges and the unifying effect Ticketmaster has had on politics. Rauce Thoughts on dating his dog, if his dog wasn't a dog. Plus, WOKE News, Trivia & Last Call.

I have a big affinity for the suburbs (I know, it's weird), and the Eastern Screech feels like a suburban bird. They hang out along the riparian corridors with the tall older trees, hunting mice, crayfish, songbirds, and whomever else they can catch. I did the same when I grew up in Brampton, Ontario, but instead of mice, crayfish and songbirds, I was hunting for feral Apple (Malus domestica) trees, Wild Grapes (Vitis riparia), and anything else I could eat. I bet there were Screech's along the Etobicoke Creek, too. Last year, 2022, on January 4th, I recorded a show about Eastern Screech Owls (Megascops asio), which I only played on CFRU, 93.3 fm, which is the campus-community radio station where my show is broadcast. Turns out I never put it out online for some reason. Now this year, 2023, I was reading in bed when I heard the tell-tale monotonic trill of an Eastern Screech Owl out my window. This inspired me to record this new episode all about Eastern Screech Owls. I hope you learn as much as I did. DickDaniels http://theworldbirds.org Eastern Screech Owl RWD at CRC2.jpg. Image. 1.4MB. Wikimedia.org. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Screech_Owl_RWD_at_CRC2.jpg. Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 3.0), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Katie Leung's childhood interest in charismatic megafauna and predatory mammals and fish has evolved to include raptors like the Eastern Screech-Owl and the Osprey. Katie describes her previous work with raptors in New York City. She is effusive about her new job working on the Hudson River, a "beautiful, vast estuary". I appreciate Katie's willingness to talk about balancing vigilance in light of anti-Asian hate and enjoying and working in the outdoors. Read about the eagle hacking project in Inwood Hill Park in upper Manhattan. +++ Season 3 of Your Bird Story is devoted to bringing more field recordings to listeners. CHIRP, as we are calling this season, is made possible with a Voice for Nature Foundation grant. +++ Production Creator and Host: Georgia Silvera Seamans Producer and Editor: Pod to the People Raptor vocalizations were accessed from the Macaulay Library. +++ Share this episode with a friend! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourbirdstory/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/yourbirdstory/support

Screech-owls are opportunistic diners. In the Pacific Northwest, they'll prey on small birds, crayfish, large ants, or earthworms. In Arizona, pocket mice and pack rats. And in Ohio, biologists who noticed a fishy smell around Eastern Screech-Owl nest boxes found the remains of dozens of shad. It's clear that screech-owls may be a consistent nocturnal predator on fish, especially in cooler months, when other prey are dormant.Gotta feed those hungry owlets!More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Each year I attempt to put together a new episode for the Halloween season, but as you might be aware, finding owls is in itself a time consuming effort, let alone recording sounds of them. While I didn't succeed in capturing much this year, I did think of what I think should be a fun fill-in. This episode will be entirely soundscapes of birds, insects, frogs, and coyotes singing in the night. It will be a standalone episode, in case you'd like to play it on a loop for a haunted house, or whatever purpose you might have in mind. This will be on both the Songbirding and Songscapes podcast feeds. Species include: Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Whippoorwill, Eastern Coyote, Common True Katydid, Chorus Frog, and more. Locations of recording were throughout southern Ontario, and in Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania. This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

Each year I attempt to put together a new episode for the Halloween season, but as you might be aware, finding owls is in itself a time consuming effort, let alone recording sounds of them. While I didn't succeed in capturing much this year, I did think of what I think should be a fun fill-in. This episode will be entirely soundscapes of birds, insects, frogs, and coyotes singing in the night. It will be a standalone episode, in case you'd like to play it on a loop for a haunted house, or whatever purpose you might have in mind. This will be on both the Songbirding and Songscapes podcast feeds. Species include: Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Whippoorwill, Eastern Coyote, Common True Katydid, Chorus Frog, and more. Locations of recording were throughout southern Ontario, and in Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania. This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songscapes.

CLICK HERE to listen to episode audio (4:15).Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments ImageExtra Information Sources Related Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.). Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 10-21-22. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of October 24 and October 31.   This revised episode from Halloween 2014 is part of a series this year of episodes related to trees and shrubs. SOUNDS – ~9 sec What better than an Eastern Screech-Owl calling eerily from a dark woods to conjure up a Halloween landscape? But for this Halloween season episode, consider a much quieter, but still mysterious, part of that landscape: the American Witch Hazel plant.  This shrub or small tree—a native in Virginia and throughout the eastern United States—has two noteworthy water connections.  First is the use of its forked twigs in “dowsing,” “divining,” or “water witching” to try to find groundwater, a centuries-old practice that some people still follow.  In fact, the “witch” in the plant's common name may derive from an old English word that means “bend,” apparently referring to the plant's flexible twigs and, perhaps, to the belief that a dowsing rod will bend toward groundwater.  Second, extracts from the plant's bark and leaves have long been used—medicinally and cosmetically—as an astringent, that is, a substance used to dry fluids and shrink tissues. Besides its reputed water-finding ability and its established fluid-drying uses, American Witch Hazel is also remarkable for its unusual blooming time.  Bright yellow flowers appear in fall and can continue into December, often seen beside fruits from the previous season.  When those fruits ripen, seeds are forcibly ejected some distance, leading to yet another possible origin of the plant's name: that people attributed to witchcraft the mysterious sound of those far-flung seeds hitting the ground. From its name, to its uses, to its unusual flowering and fruiting, Witch Hazel offers botanical treats far beyond Halloween season's creepy screeches. SOUND – 3 sec – Screech-Owl We close a musical observation about how seeing a cold-weather flowering tree can inspire human resilience.  Here's about 50 seconds of a song called “Witch Hazel,” by Tom Gala, from his 2011 album, “Story After Story.” MUSIC - ~53 sec – Lyrics: “I am looking at Witch Hazel blooming in a garden—the bright yellow flowers in the middle of wintertime.  And I tell my heart be strong like the Witch Hazel flower, and you will not be injured by this dark and trouble time.” SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Ben Cosgrove for his version of “Shenandoah” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Virginia Water Radio episode revises and replaces Episode 238, 10-31-14. The Eastern Screech-Owl sound was recorded by Virginia Water Radio in Blacksburg, Va., on the night of August 12, 2013. “Witch Hazel,” from the 2011 album “Story After Story,” is copyright by Tom Gala, used with permission.  More information about Tom Gala is available online at https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kG6YXrfGPB6lygJwOUNqO. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (2 min./22 sec.) of the “Shenandoah” arrangement/performance by Ben Cosgrove that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Cosgrove is available online at http://www.bencosgrove.com. IMAGE An American Witch Hazel plant in Blacksburg, Va., blooming on October 13, 2022. EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT WATER DOWSING The following information is quoted from the U.S. Geological Survey, “Water Science School/What is Water Dowsing?”; online at https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-dowsing. “'Water dowsing' refers in general to the practice of using a forked stick, rod, pendulum, or similar device to locate underground water, minerals, or other hidden or lost substances, and has been a subject of discussion and controversy for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. “Although tools and methods vary widely, most dowsers (also called diviners or water witches) probably still use the traditional forked stick, which may come from a variety of trees, including the willow, peach, and witchhazel.  Other dowsers may use keys, wire coat hangers, pliers, wire rods, pendulums, or various kinds of elaborate boxes and electrical instruments. “In the classic method of using a forked stick, one fork is held in each hand with the palms upward.  The bottom or butt end of the ‘Y' is pointed skyward at an angle of about 45 degrees.  The dowser then walks back and forth over the area to be tested.  When she/he passes over a source of water, the butt end of the stick is supposed to rotate or be attracted downward. “Water dowsers practice mainly in rural or suburban communities where residents are uncertain as to how to locate the best and cheapest supply of groundwater.  “Because the drilling and development of a well often costs more than a thousand dollars, homeowners are understandably reluctant to gamble on a dry hole and turn to the water dowser for advice.” What does science say about dowsing? “Case histories and demonstrations of dowsers may seem convincing, but when dowsing is exposed to scientific examination, it presents a very different picture.  The natural explanation of ‘successful' water dowsing is that in many areas underground water is so prevalent close to the land surface that it would be hard to drill a well and not find water.  In a region of adequate rainfall and favorable geology, it is difficult not to drill and find water! “Some water exists under the Earth's surface almost everywhere. This explains why many dowsers appear to be successful.  To locate groundwater accurately, however, as to depth, quantity, and quality, several techniques must be used.  Hydrologic, geologic, and geophysical knowledge is needed to determine the depths and extent of the different water-bearing strata and the quantity and quality of water found in each.  The area must be thoroughly tested and studied to determine these facts.”SOURCES Used for Audio John-Manuel Adriote, “The Mysterious Past and Present of Witch Hazel,” by The Atlantic, November 6, 2012, online at http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/11/the-mysterious-past-and-present-of-witch-hazel/264553/.American Water Surveyors, “Water Witching: A Brief History,” by Gerald Burden, December 26, 2015, online at https://wefindwater.com/water-witching-a-brief-history/. Arbor Day Foundation, “Witchhazel/Hamamelis virginiania,” online at https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=940. eFloras.org, “Flora of North America/Hamamelis,” online at http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=114541. Encyclopedia Britannica, “Hamamelidaceae plant family,” online at https://www.britannica.com/plant/Hamamelidaceae.  Oscar W. Gupton and Fred C. Swope, Trees and Shrubs of Virginia, University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1981. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center [Austin, Tex.], “Plant Database/Hamamelis virginiana,” online at https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=havi4.Sarina Smith, “The Wonders of Witch Hazel,” February 4, 2020, Haverford College [Pennsylvania] Arboretum, online at https://www.haverford.edu/arboretum/blog/wonders-witch-hazel. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Natural Resources Conservation Service, “PLANTS Database/American witchhazel,” online at https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=HAVI4. U.S. Geological Survey/Water Science School, “Water Dowsing,” online at https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-dowsing. Alan S. Weakley, J. Christopher Ludwig, and John F. Townsend, Bland Crowder, ed., Flora of Virginia, Botanical Research Institute Press, Ft. Worth, Tex., 2012.  Information is available online at The Flora of Virginia Project, http://www.floraofvirginia.org/.For More Information about Trees and Shrubs in Virginia and Elsewhere Center for Watershed Protection, “Trees and Stormwater Runoff,” online at https://www.cwp.org/reducing-stormwater-runoff/. Chesapeake Bay Program, “Field Guide: Plants and Trees,” online at https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/critters?s=&fieldGuideType=Plants+%26+Trees&fieldGuideHabitat=. James P. Engel, “Shrubs in the Understory,” February 2012, online at http://www.whiteoaknursery.biz/essays/ShrubsinUnderstory.shtml. Sanglin Lee and Alan Raflo, “Trees and Water,” Virginia Water Resources Research Center, Virginia Water Central Newsletter, pages 13-18, online at https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/49367. Penn State Extension, “Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcovers Tolerant of Wet Sites,” prepared by N. Robert Nuss, and reviewed and revised by Scott Guiser and Jim Smellmer, October 2007, online at https://extension.psu.edu/trees-shrubs-and-groundcovers-tolerant-of-wet-sites. Plant Virginia Natives, “Virginia Native Shrubs—Backbone of Our Landscape,” undated, online at https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/virginia-native-shrubs. Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension, “How Trees Grow,” online at https://agrilife.org/treecarekit/introduction-to-tree-care/how-trees-grow/. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Forests of Virginia, 2018, Resource Update FS-264, Asheville, N.C., 2020; available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/59963. U.S. Department of Agriculture/U.S. Forest Service, “State and Private Forestry Fact Sheet—Virginia 2022,” online (as a PDF) at https://apps.fs.usda.gov/nicportal/temppdf/sfs/naweb/VA_std.pdf. U.S. Department of Agriculture/Forest Service/Climate Change Resource Center, “Forest Tree Diseases and Climate Change,” online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/forest-disease. Virginia Botanical Associates, “Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora,” online at http://www.vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=start&search=Search. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation/Natural Heritage Program, online at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/.  See also “The Natural Communities of Virginia: Ecological Groups and Community Types,” online (as a PDF) at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/document/comlist07-21.pdf. Virginia Department of Forestry, “Virginia's Forests,” online at https://dof.virginia.gov/.  Some of the useful pages at that site are the following:“Benefits of Trees,” online at https://dof.virginia.gov/education-and-recreation/learn-about-education-recreation/benefits-of-tree/;“Common Native Trees of Virginia,” 2020 edition, online (as a PDF) at https://dof.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/Common-Native-Trees-ID_pub.pdf;“Trees for Clean Water Program,” online at https://dof.virginia.gov/urban-community-forestry/urban-forestry-community-assistance/virginia-trees-for-clean-water-grant-program/;“Virginia Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources,” November 2020, online (as a PDF) at https://www.stateforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2020-VA-Statewide-Assessment.pdf;“Tree Identification,” online at https://dof.virginia.gov/education-and-recreation/learn-about-education-recreation/tree-identification/. Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program, Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment, online at https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/. Virginia Forest Products Association, online at https://www.vfpa.net/. Virginia Native Plant Society, online at http://vnps.org/. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “Plants” subject category. Following are links to other episodes on trees and shrubs. Introduction to trees and water – Episode 621, 3-21-22. American Sycamore – Episode 624, 4-11-22. Ash trees – Episode 376, 7-10-17 and Episode 625, 4-18-22. Early spring wildflowers in woodlands – Episode 573, 4-19-21. Fall colors and their connection to water movement in trees – Episode 638, 10-10-22. “Fifteen Minutes in the Forest” video podcast series – Episode 637, 9-26-22. Forest lands and work in Virginia – Episode 623, 4-4-22. Maple trees – Episode 503, 12-16-19. Photosynthesis – Episode 602, 11-8-21. Po

My guest today is Denise Lewis, Director of Programs and resident raptor expert at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, Nebraska. Today Denise gives me a tour of the Raptor Woodland Refuge, which is an incredible public facility at the forest. Just envision this - a densely wooded hillside with an elevated boardwalk. But every 10 or 20 meters, there is a structure, almost like a cabin, each housing incredible owls, hawks, vultures, and eagles!Denise and I discuss each of the species of birds at the refuge, including Swainson's Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Screech Owl, and more. You'll learn a bit about the natural history of each of these species, and get some behind-the-scenes insights into how they are cared for.All of these incredible raptors have been deemed un-releasable due to the injuries they sustained. But the wonderful people at Fontenelle Forest have given these birds a second chance through this wonderful education space.This is the second episode I recorded "in the field" at Fontenelle Forest . So as we walk through the raptor refuge you'll hear some wonderful vocalizations of these birds. You may also hear some vocalizations of some of the visitors, especially early in the episode.I hope you enjoy this tour as much as I did! I'm posting some photos and videos in the show notes at podcast.naturesarchive.com, as well as in my stories on my instagram, so please check them out!And be sure to follow Fontenelle Forest on twitter, instagram, and facebook. And if you missed it, check out episode 53, where Michelle Foss and I walk the forest and discuss the habitats, management and stewardship practices, and some of the species and ecologies on the western extent of this eastern deciduous habitat.So without further delay, Denise Lewis and the incredible educational raptors of the Raptor Woodland Refuge.FULL SHOW NOTESFollow Nature's Archive on Instagram, Twitter, and FacebookLINKSCornell's All About Birds - comprehensive and free resource covering all of the birds of North AmericaDiane Guinn - Educator at the Woodland Raptor Refuge who made an appearance in the podcast.Fontenelle ForestMy Podcast Episode with Michelle Foss - all about Fontenelle Forest's habitats and land managementThe following music was used for this media project:Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz MusicFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9616-spellboundLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com Support the show

A little owl! Found in the Eastern United States! But does he screech? No. Alright, we almost got the name right. Join us in your favorite podcast released every FORTNIGHT.   Where are Eastern Screeches found? What does Henry Thoreau have to say about this? Will I be able to spot a screech when I hear it? Has anyone ever thrown one at a tree before? Tune in to find out. 

In our last episode, we discussed how rodenticides, also known as rat poisons, can have a negative impact on our birds of prey. Today, we'll be talking about Florida's five resident owl species and how to identify them by the calls they make. These owls are valuable predators in our local ecosystems, both rural and urban, and can be easily identified with just a little practice. Learn more: Watch our webinar: https://youtu.be/XhTFTNucDcw Commonly Confused Owls in Florida: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/polkco/2019/11/06/commonly-confused-owls-in-florida/ Check out inaturalist.org for owls observed near you: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=21&q=owl&subview=map&iconic_taxa=Aves Owl Calls: Great horned owl calls: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/sounds Barred owl calls: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/sounds Barn owl calls: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/sounds Eastern screech owl calls: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/sounds Burrowing owl calls: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/sounds How You Can Help: Share what you learned with a friend! Consider adding habitat for our owl friends. See these links for nestbox plans: Eastern screech owl, barred owl, and barn owl Think carefully before using any rodenticides and try other methods of rodent control, first! Sources for this Episode: Cornell's All About Birds website: barn owls, barred owls, great horned owls, Eastern screech owls, burrowing owls FWC's Owl Pages - https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/#!categoryid=1149&subcategoryid=16772&status= If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturallyflorida/message

At the close of a summer day, the songbirds go silent. As if on cue, the birds of the night make their voices known. In an Eastern woodland, the eerie trills and whinnies of an Eastern Screech-Owl are among the first sounds of the night. Meanwhile, as night falls west of the Rockies, a Western Screech-Owl (like this one) calls out. But there's another bird whose voice will drown out the loudest of screech-owls: the Barred Owl! Pairs may break into a rollicking duet, sometimes called their “monkey call.”More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

Katie Gill Warner is the Center Director for the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida, and she joins us today along with an Eastern Screech Owl named…Billy Owlish. Katie shares some fascinating facts about this small owl and what to do if you find a baby owl outside of their nest, since now is baby season. To help cover the costs of caring for so many young birds, the Center invites you to their Baby Owl Shower on Saturday, May 7th, 2022. To see their Wish List, or to get tickets and more, go to www.cbop.audubon.org or call (407) 644-0190.

An owl's seeming ability to rotate its head in a complete circle is downright eerie. An owl's apparent head rotation is part illusion, part structural design. Because its eyes are fixed in their sockets, it must rotate its neck to look around. It can actually rotate its head about 270 degrees – a marvelous anatomical feat. You can learn more about this Eastern Screech-Owl at Cornell's AllAboutBirds.

Birds come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They play a critical role in our ecosystems, keeping insect populations in-check, serving as a valuable prey item for our larger mammals, and helping to disperse seeds! Just like people, birds need food, water and shelter to survive. In this episode, we will explore a special type of bird called cavity nesters, who, as the name implies, need cavities to nest, reproduce and thrive. Sign Up: Register for our upcoming webinar all about cavity nesters and consider signing up for a workshop to build your own Eastern Screech Owl nest box: https://cavitynesters21.eventbrite.com Learn more: Helping Cavity-Nesters in Florida - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW058 All About Birdhouses: Next Box Placement - https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/nest-box-placement/ Bird Buddies - http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellasco/2021/10/11/bird-buddies/ How You Can Help: Provide snags – Snags are standing dead trees, and they provide excellent natural habitat for cavity nesters. Primary cavity nesters, like woodpeckers will seek out dying trees to excavate as this wood is usually softer and easier to chip away. Build or install an artificial nest box ­– It's important to build the right house for the right bird. There are many factors to consider when constructing a nest box. Be sure to check out our blog for more details. Provide other forms of shelter – Native plants of various heights provide excellent cover for birds and other wildlife species, plus they provide an excellent source of food. Sources for this Episode: Bird sounds by Brian Henderson, XC457516. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/457516 Helping Cavity-Nesters in Florida - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW058 “The Sibley Guide to Birds” by David Allen Sibley “A Birder's Guide to Pinellas County (Florida)” by Ron Smith All About Birdhouses: Next Box Placement - https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/nest-box-placement/ Predator Guards Carry Their Weight - https://nestwatch.org/connect/blog/predator-guards-carry-their-weight/ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here! If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturallyflorida/message

Music producer So Wylie began transforming bird calls and songs into musical “bird beats” during the pandemic. The first bird beat she made was inspired by Rocky, a Northern Saw-whet Owl that was found bundled up in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020. Since then, the Boreal Owl, Barn Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl have been featured in her upbeat tunes. Learn more at BirdNote.org.

“…and today we're talking about an owl with an eye for allies. But more on that later.” Small things slithering across the woodlands know to watch the skies. A killer approaches silently as it glides from high perches. For most small mammals and invertebrates that meet this aerial doom, it's time to say goodbye to […]

In this episode of Animal House, we talk to Sarrah LaSeur with the Central Florida Zoo, who brought along an Eastern Screech Owl named Sophie. Sarrah also talked about upcoming events at the Zoo. Learn more at www.centralfloridazoo.org.