We think of owls as primarily nocturnal but this northern saw-whet was out on Friday morning, Dec. 4, in Sharon. Photo by Oscar Martinez
Whooo do you spot in the trees?
SHARON — Oscar Martinez in Sharon was clearing leaves on Dec. 4 when he “heard noise, looked up and he/she stared back.” By contacting a neighbor who is a birder and by then contacting Sharon Audubon, Martinez was able to identify this owl as a northern saw-whet.
Bird watchers, experienced and novice, are encouraged to take part in the Audubon national bird count on Sunday, Dec. 20, from 12:01 a.m. to midnight. This year’s count is completely online.
Audubon’s Zach Adams can help identify birds; contact him at za4250@hotmail.com for information, to receive a bird feeder count form (he can connect you with one of the area “captains”) and to get the Zoom link for the virtual post-birding count-up.
The regional count is known as the Trixie Strauss Christmas Bird Count in honor of a longtime area resident.
— Cynthia Hochswender
