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.
Blue Jays get a bad reputation. I think mine are more polite and respectful to other birds than most of the finches and sparrows and robins are with each other. They have a ton of personality too. I tell them apart by their behaviors.
Birds are really captivating creatures. They come in all shapes and colors, make sometimes pretty noises, and they're dinosaurs! What more could you want?