Mendocino County has ten species of owls that have been well-recorded within the county. Seven of those species have been observed, or at least heard, at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. Of all those species, the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) is the most secretive and nocturnal. About 15 years ago we discovered a nest with a female sitting on it ... however that nest was about 150 feet onto the Lake County side. Casual observation showed us that the mate was usually nearby (within 100 feet) but was impossible to spot before it flushed and flew away. Prey dropped below the nest during the nestling-rearing stage consisted of 100% California Meadow Voles (Microtus californicus),telling us that the owls were hunting in the nearby meadow areas as opposed to the oak woodlands or chaparral brushlands which were also nearby.
This photographed Long-eared Owl was one of two that roosted during the winter-daytime in a lone, isolated pepperwood tree located in the middle of an open grassy hillside. The long wings with the black "wrist-mark" in combination with the rusty facial disk help to identify this owl species.
