First Long Eared Owl

On Thursday night we captured our first Long Eared Owl of the season. It was actually our first bird of the night and thankfully our only bird of that net check. Thus we were able to devote extra time to aging and sexing this species which is somewhat different from the more frequently captured Northern Saw-whet Owls and in that respect more difficult. Plus with much bigger talons we wanted to be a little more careful. Being footed by a saw whet is anywhere from annoying to painful. Being footed by a long eared would be excruciating. Or at least I imagine it would be. Don’t want to found out!