I came into the park after fly out and after some searching found Flaco at the construction site by the Harlem Meer. He moved around a few times and then ended up on a railing where he hooted. I haven’t hear him hoot from within the construction site since the spring, so this was a nice surprise.

Four dirt bikes drove along the West Drive and he moved to a tree near Nutter’s Battery and continued hooting. By the time I got to the Battery, he had stopped hooting. I made my way to the Compost Heap, and he wasn’t there. I was ready to pack it in for the evening. But then out of nowhere, he flew to one of his favorite perches.

He briefly went to a high pile of dirt, before returning to his tree. Two police cars were at the Compost Heap and as they left for their shift change, they stopped to look at Flaco. One officer asked me if their patrol cars bothered Flaco, and I explained not usually, except when they were rushing to respond to a call. It was nice to know the park police are interested in Flaco’s welfare. I told them what had spooked him this evening was four dirt bikes and the officer’s reaction was to apologize. He expressed his frustration that the dirt bikes where outsmarting them, because chasing after them could lead to injuries of the public or the riders, there wasn’t much they could do safely.

When the police left Flaco went to a Black Locust and hooted for over an hour. Those of us who are watching him are trying to figure out what’s triggering the resumption of hooting. Is he defending his territory during migration? Does he think there might be a female Eurasian Eagle-Owl moving through? Or are the shorter days having an effect? We can only wonder what the cause is at this point.

He was also sneezing. Something I don’t remember seeing or hearing before. It was hard to record, but a delightful sound to hear.