Who cooks for you?

We’ve been hearing an owl duo at night, and last night they sounded as though they were practically on our roof. Kelly looked up local owls in a bird-finder app and listened to their calls, and now we know our owl neighbors! They are Barred Owls, and their distinctive hoot call is supposed to sound like “who cooks for you?” I find most f the birder vocalization descriptions silly, but this one’s not bad, To me, the hooting sounds more like classic spooky haunted woods owl outlined against a full moon, who calls before sweeping off into the shadows.

Speaking of swooping, apparently one way to get a good look at them is to imitate their call. They are very territorial, and might come out to check on the intruder. I’ll have to practice my hoots tonight.