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English and Scientific names: |
Flammulated Owl, Otus flammeolus |
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Number of individuals: |
1 |
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Locality: LOUISIANA: |
Cameron Parish |
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Specific Locality: |
2.8 km east of Rutherford Beach community |
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Date(s) when observed: |
19 October 2007 |
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Time(s) of day when
observed: |
11:35-11:55 |
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Reporting observer and address: |
Robert C. Dobbs Lafayette, LA 70503 |
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Other observers accompanying reporter who
also identified the bird(s): |
None |
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Other
observers who independently identified the bird(s): |
None |
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Light
conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount
of light): |
Mid-day sun under clear
sky; bird was first observed in the shade of Acacia bush and hackberry trees,
and subsequently in bright light of exposed perch on down/dead hackberry
tree. |
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Optical equipment: |
8x30 Swarovski
binoculars |
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Distance to
bird(s): |
Initially observed bird
at 4 m distance from its day roost; subsequently observed bird at 8 m
distance after inadvertently flushing it to an exposed perch. |
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Duration of
observation: |
20 min |
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Habitat: |
Hackberry-dominated chenier woodland with scattered Acacia bushes. This chenier was disturbed by Hurricane Rita such that most hackberry trees were either dead or had very little live foliage, and thus a semi-open canopy. |
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Behavior of bird: |
Originally discovered bird on its day roost, about 1 m above the ground, in the interior portion of an Acacia bush. Inadvertently flushed bird about 5 m to an exposed perch in a down/dead hackberry tree. |
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Description: |
Small screech owl (i.e., small owl with small ear tufts) with dark irides. Scapulars rufescent in color, creating distinctive rufescent braces on back. Facial discs rufescent (same color as scapulars), contrasting with gray crown. Very bold black streaks, with finer black barring, on breast/belly. |
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Voice: |
Bird did not vocalize. |
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Similar
species: |
Other screech-owls eliminated primarily by (a) dark iris color and (b) rufescent color of scapulars, as well as (c) plumage colors of head and (d) intensity of streaking on breast/belly. |
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Photographs
or tape recordings obtained? |
Photographs obtained by Robert C. Dobbs. Attached. |
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Previous
experience with this species: |
Familiar with this species on breeding grounds in Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. |
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Identification aids: |
at time of
observation: N/A |
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This description is written from: |
Description based on notes taken at time of observation and photographs. |
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Are
you positive of your identification? If not, explain: |
Yes |
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Reporter: |
Robert C. Dobbs
|
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Date and time: |
21 October 2007, 19:15 |