[EBB Sightings] Barn Owl at Cesar Chavez

Since there are Barn Owl boxes at Cesar Chavez, this sighting may not be
news, but:  

This evening between 5:15 and 5:45, a Barn Owl was hunting on the northern
edge of Cesar Chavez Park, working the entire field of mixed vegetation in
which a Barn Owl box is mounted near a "Protected Natural Area" sign.

The owl hunted back and forth, just above shrub level, pausing several times
to stand on the low concrete columns at either end of the field.  It dove
for prey 5 times, 4 times with no luck (and one time apparently flushing a
small flock of birds).  On the last attempt, it remained on the ground for a
couple of minutes. It was pretty dark by then, so I had to leave without
knowing for sure if the owl dined.

Happy new year, indeed!

Lory Poulson
Richmond