What type of owl?

[Northernboy]

Hello,

We had an owl hooting 3:45am Saturday morning. A deep hollow sounding hooting.
Last night again Sunday am at approx. the same time I think it was back making a type of keening sound.
This is near Leslie and McNicoll in North York, Toronto.
After searching for calls on the internet the closest I can find is the Great Horned owl for the deep hoot.
I couldn't find anything close for the keening sound.
Does it seem likely that this type of owl would be in this neighbourhood?
We lived here 30 years and never heard an owl before.

[lovemypt]

yes,Great horns are very common and in urban area/cities..although generally not seen much due to amount of leaves on the trees

[Northernboy]

Thanks for the quick response.
Although we found it interesting to have such a bird so close, I hope he doesn't stay as he can really break up a night's sleep. Lol.


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[Axeman]

Back in the early 90's, I had a chance to visit with Bernice Inman at her place in Mississauga -- opposite the South Entrance to UTM. She took me for a walk in the woods and told me to stand with my hands outstretched to the side and placed a dead chick in each palm....it wasn't long before a pair of GHO's shot silently from the canopy behind me...and picked the chicks from my palms...scared the crap out of me...did not realize they were there until they were right on me. Memory of a lifetime.

Where we live now, I've never heard a GHO but have heard the umm...is it screech howl that sounds like a horse whinney ? I have an owl box erected but nothing has taken an interest in the year since I put it up.

[MEGHAN]

Back in the early 90's, I had a chance to visit with Bernice Inman at her place in Mississauga -- opposite the South Entrance to UTM. She took me for a walk in the woods and told me to stand with my hands outstretched to the side and placed a dead chick in each palm....it wasn't long before a pair of GHO's shot silently from the canopy behind me...and picked the chicks from my palms...scared the crap out of me...did not realize they were there until they were right on me. Memory of a lifetime..

That would have been the most amazing experience. Lucky you to have taken part in a thrill like that.

[Axeman]

Yes meeting Bernice -- met her a few times...once when I was unloading a young male kestrel that was weakened from being unsuccessful at hunting...

I remember as a kid..8 or 9 years old...delivering the Mississauga News, reading about the passing of Roy Ivor -- the Bird Man of Mississauga -- not knowing years later I'd get to visit his sanctuary.

For those of you that have never had a chance to see it, it was a truly magical place...long winding dirt drive through thick wild woods... like a magic carpet, whisking you away from urban Mississauga to a remote old log cabin....in the summer evenings, just like in Disney...families of animals would appear around the cabin....deer...raccoons...foxes...and Bernice would feed them...they had no fear of her...

[MEGHAN]

After the death of Bernice I think everything was shut down. It is hard to find info online about it but I think right now there is a many years long battle to save the property from development.
That 1 acre of property is worth a small fortune, and some want it sold,. I know Mayor Hazel was trying to save it and turn it into a conservation area...or something like that don't quote me. Like I said it is hard to find information on it. I did a quick search earlier and I can find nothing more current than 2010.
Right now there is "no tresspassing sign" around the property and at the enterence.
If you can dig up any information please pass it on

[Axeman]

I thought it was sold...to a developer...was it only one acre ?? Wow...I remember at the time thinking it was huge...endless...magical place...no trespassing, huh ? I say we conspire to engage in a clandestine birding adventure there...I bet those old owls are still there...

[Northernboy]

I've found the voice of my second owl. Thanks to a posting of owl sounds by Kris Ito to Dodo back in June. They were discussing Brickwork owls and Kris posted the voice of an Eastern Screech Owl. That's my bird! The monotronic trill is exactly what we heard. - Thanks Kris.