Towheeblog

I have seen many birds use fences for hunting, perching, singing, resting.  California ground squirrels are notorious for hanging their forelegs through the fence and hanging out, alert to any passing raptor.  Avian fence-sitters include meadowlarks and their icterid cousins, bluebirds, blackbirds or all species, snipe in spring.  Harriers may rest on a post a few feet above the grass.  During my recent week in Harney County out Road Scholar group saw a Great Horned Owl on a fence post near MP 8 along Hwy 205 south of Burns.  This was apparently a first year bird.  He didn’t yet know his great hearing and silent flight would allow him a much higher and safer perch from which to hunt. He flew along the fence line, landing on three different posts, and even giving us a frontal view.

I hope he learns to hunt away from that highway where cars often travel more than 60 MPH.

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