[mou-net] Hawk Owls -- courtship behavior?

[Warren]

This afternoon, I drove up to Aitkin County Road 18 to check out my 
feeding station and make sure it was full. On C.R.18, 1 1/10 miles east 
of hwy 169 there were two NORTHERN HAWK OWLS sitting about 40 feet apart 
in two birch trees right beside the road. They were steadily making high 
pitched squeals to each other. Occasionally they would fly out briefly, 
swinging back into the birch trees. Once they landed side by side 
(quickly) -- touching beaks -- still making the high pitched squeals. 
This continued for over an hour. When I left, they were still at it. I 
can only assume that this is part of their courtship ritual. Northern 
Hawk Owls did nest close to that area a couple of years ago. Hopefully, 
they will again. There was also a GREAT GRAY OWL spotted just to the 
east of the Hebron Cemetery -- and the BOREAL CHICKADEE and GRAY JAYS 
are still coming into the feeding station along the snowmobile trail 
(Moose River Trail) that goes south from 320th Place. A NORTHERN SHRIKE 
was also seen near the hawk owls.   Warren Nelson

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