Park News Dec 13 2025
Another Owl at Perch A
My camera on tripod was filming the Shy Owl in the bushes south of the Spiral. Seeing no park visitors to chat with, I stepped over into the Spiral with my trusty Samsung S-24 and checked for owls on the riprap to the north. Nearby, nothing. But 100+ yards away, above the flat slanting stone that is the fieldmark of Perch A, there stood an owl. Fully exposed, taking the sun, comfortably on one leg. My cell phone at 100x magnification saw the bird only as a blurred outline. I hastened back, lugged the big camera into position, and got a sharper picture at 3000mm focal range. The video above is a bit jerky. Here’s a steady image:
This is the second time this winter season that an owl has been spotted at this historic Perch A. I saw an owl here on Nov 29, see this item. My initial impression from comparing the two birds’ breast feather patterns is that these are the same individual.
Earlier, while filming the Shy Owl, I saw it take alarm at something and scramble a few feet to its right into the depression where it sometimes hides, at the edge of a burrow entrance. Here’s what it looked like there:
There’s no doubt that the Shy Owl and the owl at Perch A are different individuals.
A Guide to Perching Spots
Owl spotters continually get questions about the exact locations where owls might be seen. I’ve put together a little map with labels and links to the spots where owls have been seen this winter season so far. That’s on a separate page, click to go there now.
How Many Feathers?
From a newly published scientific paper:
How many feathers does a Burrowing Owl have? Researchers in Patagonia, Argentina, counted and weighed the total feathers of one adult male that had been killed by a collision with a car. The bird had 6,148 feathers. They weighed a total of 14.73 grams, or 9.2 percent of the bird’s total weight of 160 grams. The feathers weighed more than the owl’s bones, which came to 11.45 grams. See Formoso, Sathier and Johnson, Total number of feathers in the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), in Research Square.
Reminder: Winter Solstice Gathering Sun Dec 21 4pm
At the turning of each season, we gather to commemorate the passage of time, connecting with our ancestors and people around the world who celebrate seasonal patterns of the sun. These are moments to be together, honoring the seasons of agriculture, the four directions, and the four key virtues of Chávez – hope, determination, courage, & tolerance. Join us this month for a celebration of the returning of the light!
Sunday, December 21st, 2025 – 4 pm to 5:15 pm
Celebrate the Astronomical and Cultural significance of the Winter Solstice and festivals of earth’s resting season.
Chávez / Huerta Virtue: Tolerance / Non Violence
Led by Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science and Bryan Mendez of the Space Sciences Lab, UCB
Cesar Chavez Memorial Solar Calendar
Perimeter Trail, Berkeley, CA 94720
(Rain cancels but some brave souls often show up anyway!)
Join the Solar Calendar’s Google Calendar if you want to be automagically reminded each season.
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Might owl c be a returnee..??
Al
Martin, Thank you for the spotting locations. Excellent.