Beacon. Owl. Grunge Book Anchors.

[darstog]

FYI, There's an owl who has made his home immediately below the anchors on Grunge Book (I think this is the name of the climb--between Blownout and Excalibur). He wasn't particularly fond of the fact that I had to rap from his anchors. I wasn't particularly fond of the large bird-of-prey with a huge beak hissing at me. We parted company as quickly as possible. I doubt this will affect many people, I just don't want my owly friend too stressed out...

[JosephH]

Hi, we were the ones up on Big Ledge talking with you. So it was an Owl and not a Peregrine that made the mess on the top of. How big and what color was it? We've been tracking an Owl for the past two years though at that time it was in the large, wide crack below the Windsurfer anchor.

 

Given we're operating under an early open at the grace of WDFW I'd ask that until we know more about what's going on with this Owl relative to chicks and nesting, that everyone please stay off of 'Beacon Towers' and the routes Borderline, Grunge Book, and Excalibur (immediately left of the start of the second pitch of Blownout) between now and July 15th. Thanks.

[billcoe]

I had seen a barn owl like this last year in that vicinity.

 

 

 

 

Pretty birds. Last warehouse we had we often had one come in and hang out. Had lots of birds visit on occasion. Swallows, a Kestrl, a Peacock......

[kevbone]

An owl eh? Sweet.....maybe it will scare away the peregrines.

[darstog]

Bill,

That was most definitely the species at those anchors (I'm not really into ornithology, but I was VERY close to my little pal--close enough to make a positive ID). He seems to have a good set-up over there (sans climbers). There was not only a ton of owl crap, but the remains of quite a few little critters he's been snacking on.

[JosephH]

That's the one we were seeing last year as well. That's a big help, thanks guys.

[Cobra_Commander]

That nest will be re-used. Those guys are very common everywhere.

[kevbone]

Those guys are very common everywhere.

 

So are peregrines

[billcoe]

Cobra is back!

 

You been posting as Prole or No 13 or some damn thing? You've been MIA.

[Cobra_Commander]

haha nope, certainly not posting much.

 

If you want to get an idea on what's going on inside the nest:

 

http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nestcams/camera/view?cameraID=C100016

 

Owls are cool.

[pink]

those owls have been out there as long as i have been, big fucker.

[JosephH]

Yep, this one has been around on a more or less permanent basis for some time, his use of this ledge system is new, however.

[pink]

what ledge system

[pink]

oh, that ledge system

[pink]

oh, that ledge system

[pink]

oh, that new ledge system. beacon has some new ledge systems? no, their used but new to beacon. and the owls love them? the owls really like the new ledge systems. hat happened to the old ones? some sportos pooped all over them. why? because they were mad that 5.9 OW seems so much harder than 5.12 sport. so they pooped on the ledge? they pooped on the ledge.

 

we need to get them ledge poopers and get myself a new ledge!!!!!!!!!

 

 

THE END

[pink]

Yep, this one has been around on a more or less permanent basis for some time, his use of this ledge system is new, however.

 

more or less permanent basis? hey joseph, watch me pull a rabbit out of my ass.

 

again? now for something completely different

[pink]

no, the owls have always liked chillin behind the columns below borderline. oh, so new meaning within the past 15 years. well, that's not new at all. look at my new baby boy, but he's fifteen. well, he's new to me. that's just a little different to me. your a little different to me.

 

LETS GO TRUNDLE, YOUR ROCK OR MINE. YOUR ROCK BABY.

[pink]

i'll just talk to myself

[JosephH]

Pink, get ahold of yourself - go climbing. This particular Owl and its use of this particular ledge are both 'new' as in the last four years and the use of this ledge vs. the Windsurfer ledge is 'new' as of this year.

[pink]

that ledge has always been there

[JosephH]

It's use by this particular Owl on a long term basis really is 'new' even if the Owl and ledge aren't.

 

Don't make me kick your ass the next time we're in Eldo - you will be in shape from the wrists up, right?

[denalidave]

I knew it!

[billcoe]

Needless speculation thread: I wonder if this particular Owl has been responsible for the Peregrines moving. Owls and Peregrines do not usually cohabitate. Great Horned owls (Bubo Vaginus) have been known to prey on the chicks in an Eryiee, you'd suspect that a barn owl wouldn't be much different although they are known as awesome micers. Link, see last paragraph P2 and P3

 

Like mice and Owl's are not normally close buddies, although the Owls would like them to be as they invite them to dinner all the time.

 

I've had a Peregrine perch on top of my house and rip a Pigeon apart, much to all the neighborhood childrens amusement and shock, and had a large horned owl (which must have been a Great Horned Owl but it was semi-dark) look longingly at the cat as twilight was falling one night. (she slept inside that night)

[JosephH]

I've sent David Anderson the Owl info as we've gotten it starting with the heavy use of the Windsurfer ledge back in 2004 and the various sightings over the past three years. I've passed along this latest info and asked the same thing. If pink's assertion that large Owls such as this have always (and continuously) occupied the South Face than it would tend to indicate such Owls are not a threat to the Peregrines as they have successfully fledged off of Big Ledge many times over that period.

 

There are Great Horned Owls in the park. They nest in trees, and have been sighted every year with one ending up with a broken wing two years ago from unknown causes, though there was some speculation a Peregrine had done it.