Got a couple of acres in a NW Florida swamp. Been hearing Barred Owls for years.
How do I spot one? And tricks other than sitting still and being quiet? They seem to come pretty close. Can I "bait" them somehow with a box or something they would like to visit?
Funny story: First night I camped, three were doing their call/response thing. Every time they called, closer, and closer. Freaky sounding, one of the calls sounds almost like a child crying out.
For some reason, my idiot self thought coyotes were closing in. (Yes, I know well what coyotes sound like.)
Got a little freaked, grabbed my .410 (tiny shotgun) and decided to take the fight to them, scare 'em off (didn't want them rooting around my site). Again, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, promptly got lost.
Got home, "Hey Google! What do coyotes sound like?" Oh FFS. I am not a clever man.
Saw a Pileated Woodpecker the other day though! Super cool and way bigger than I thought.
I heard them too, I camped in Goethe State Forest. Had one real close to my tent, sounded like a monkey freaked me out. I volunteered at a wildlife shelter with two barred owls, they don't like to be bothered. And their entire thing is stealth, they are super silent when they fly and they blend really well with their surroundings. I personally say follow the calls.
Happy to hear I'm not the only one that finds their call freaky. The opening call, not so bad. The response sounds like a demon toddler.