Barred owls are a treasured part of turkey hunting. We don’t have turkeys here but barred owls are common. I like seeing them and hearing them. I was at a friends camp\cabin last year and he said we could call them in. I never heard of it but sure enough we brought two in that we heard further off to start with. It was a good experience. I had one come into a squeaky tree stand once, too. I love a still night when I hear them a quarter mile away on the hill across the brook.
I was very surprised to see this pic of one fishing. I sent it around and one friend said,
When I was just a kid there was a barred owl chick on the ground near it’s nest. It couldn’t fly yet. Not sure if it fell out of nest or what. But we would check up on it every day…..which was probably the wrong thing to do, but we didn’t know any better. Anyhow, we got to see some of the things the parents were feeding it. And the surprise to me was eels!
Another said,
I’ve watched them harass my koi. Had a pair for years around the cabin. Could walk right up to them. Caught them mating one day. I’d walk up to them start talking they would turn around and put their back to me. I still hear some and see one on occasion but I think not like before.
and another said
Barred owls catch fish and frogs. I’ve watched them do it here.
Great horned owls fish as well.