Oh Marc, thank you ever so for going to all that trouble sharing your researched data and your own views. I think your penultimate summarised para is by far the best and probable explanation
There is still so much we don’t know about these critters (and many others besides). Perhaps this is your next calling and you should offer your services to RSPB/BTO/other to further research the missing gaps?
If your animal tracking escapades are anything to go by, it would certainly make for very interesting reading and entertainment while you’re researching those missing gaps to add to your brilliantly informative website! -
Wildlifeonline - Welcome to Wildlife Online Quote:
Originally Posted by mbaldw  What sort of sounds are you hearing? |
Getting back on track! The sounds I’ve been hearing have been a squeaky tsiii tsiii (as you’ve described for a newly fledged youngster), coupled with a harsh low-key screeching from what I'm certain is more than one owl; almost sounds like they’re squabbling! Imho, the sounds are not from an adult’s repertoire of calls, of which I’m now fairly familiar with. So perhaps I can conclude that the parents are dumping their youngsters in my garden while they go off hunting! What I find so amazing is that their flight is sooooo eerily silent. Only once (didn’t want to frighten them into not returning), have I walked around the woodland area in my garden to see if I could spot the noisy youngsters, but they silenced the moment they spotted me and I just caught a brief glimpse of a silhouette fly off oh-so-silently. Magical.
*Will now stage a vigilant lookout on your website for a Tawny Owl section!
*
P.S. Love your updated homepage for this season
