Still searching for the Saw-whet Owl

BY JOHN KARRIGAN

Saw-Whet Owl

I will start with my usual exciting owl report. I have not seen or heard an owl in the park (or anywhere else) in all of July. But … I had a bad movie on TV one night. I was not even paying attention, and I suddenly recognized the sound of Saw-whet owls in the background of some pointless outdoor scene. At least, because of my late night spring park experiences, now I know what they sound like.

I haven’t done too well on seeing other birds in the park, either. About the only small birds I can count on are Song Sparrows, Goldfinches and Chimney Swifts. Of course, the ducks and Canada Geese are always on the lake, the Great Blue Heron almost always, and Egrets and Cormorants every so often. I am still pretty sure Black-crowned Night Herons are always on the island and seldom visible.
I saw an American Toad in the park, not too unusual on wet nights, but I also saw one in the back yard the same night, the first one I have ever seen in the yard in 20-some years. Ten days later, I saw a dead toad in the park and a few minutes later, a live baby toad, about thumbnail size. I have also seen baby rabbits in the park and neighborhood.

One thing I expected I might see on many occasions, but did not actually see until July 21, was a kid falling into the lake. I was on the south shore; the young boy had been fishing off the concrete wall on the north shore. The water was not over his head, the other kids with him did not panic, and the adult nearby (I believe a park youth fishing volunteer) quickly lifted him out and everybody went back to fishing. A really good outcome considering how many times I have seen young children with little or no supervision in seemingly perilous situations near the water. It has been a very long time since anyone has drowned in Powderhorn Lake and I, and lots of others, would like to keep it that way. That’s my ranting, as a caring person “of a certain age” for now.

Other things in the lake (other than small children) were a 2½-foot catfish that got caught, a 3-foot sturgeon that got caught or killed somehow, an increasing number of goldfish, and the very large carp-like fish which I believe are koi.
Shorebirds from very far north have started migrating back through Minnesota, but so far I have seen none at Powderhorn.

I am glad to report the path lights on the north side of the lake are now working after a two-month outage. Thanks to whoever finally got that done.

While small birds have been scarce in the park, the back yard has had lots of activity. The Chickadees, Goldfinches and Downy Woodpeckers which were rare in June have returned with their young. It is often difficult to tell young from old, but sometimes I can. We usually had a couple of Chickadees in spring and now there are up to eight at a time. When Downy Woodpeckers and Hairy Woodpeckers are high in trees they are often hard to distinguish. When they are six feet away on the tube feeder, it is easy to see how much larger the Hairy Woodpeckers are. And Blue Jays have returned along with Mourning Doves, Cardinals, House Finches and Robins. The English Sparrows, as usual, are around whatever the time of year.

Comments and observations are always welcome. Send them to me, in care of Southside Pride. Thank you.