One does not normally expect to see owls during the daytime, and certainly not for an extended period of time, but Burrowing Owls are unique for many reasons, including their high level of activity during the daytime. Burrowing Owls are also more approachable than most terrestrial birds species, and thus are very photogenic –like the fledglings pictured to the right. Another interesting behavior is their ability to imitate a rattlesnake's rattle when disturbed in their nest burrows.

Photo © William C. Webb

The sounds that crows make in the spring and early summer can sometimes test the patience of even the most enthusiastic birder. A great deal of the crow vocalizations made this time of year are produced by juvenile crows begging for food from their parents. These vocalizations are especially nasal and high-pitched. Begging by juvenile crows probably irritates the greatest number of humans, especially when the sounds occur near dawn –before most humans are awake.

In all fairness, it would be hypocritical for humans to fault crows as a species just for having youngsters which produce irritating sounds when the youngsters are not getting what they want. In fact, perhaps it is a sign of a successful species, since the number of crows and humans are both expanding rapidly. Nevertheless, crow vocalizations cause many humans to wonder about the legality of controlling crow populations – a question which is frequently posed this time of year, and often elicits strong emotional responses.