We don't always get skunked....

In 2010 we didn't get skunked at the Winema, and in fact had a great year with 4 nests, including one with an egg pipping (the first hole created by the hatching chick--very exciting! but we then left right away so Mama could come back and keep those eggs warm!).  These youngsters were banded and then put back in their nest platform to grow a bit more before branching out.

This is a not very good photo of an adult female Great Grey owl checking us out.  Somewhere on our various laptops we have better photos of these birds, so we'll try and find those and add them to our wildlife button on top.

This is what we go for every year.  A chance to see these birds in their natural setting, to find them using platforms we've put up for their benefit, and to informally monitor the Great Gray owl population in southern Oregon.

Getting skunked is no fun when it means we're deprived of such a wonderful sighting.  Thankfully there are many other special memories to be made on these Winema adventures, such as being together all day without the usual distractions, passing along our enthusiasm for bird watching, especially along the Klamath Marsh, listening to our favorite Hank the Cowdog CDs, singing silly songs, and picnicing in gorgeous meadows, and posing in front of the old trailer at Rake's Meadow.  All in all it's a great day, particularly when reminiscing after the mosquito bites have healed!