On Saturday, the first owl of the fall season was spotted in Central Park, a Long-eared Owl (LEOW).   (I was working, so I didn’t get to photograph LEO.)

I did make it the park around dusk to look for Eastern Screech Owls (ESOW).  Unfortunately, I suspect that there may no longer be any surviving ESOs in the park. These owls were reintroduced to the park in 1998 and 2001-2002 and have not been fairing well.  Screech Owls fly at low heights and easily run into cars.  (The original decline in Eastern Screech Owls occurred about the same time as the carriage paths in the park were turned into roadways.)

I suspect the fall owl season will consist of viewing migrating Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet Owls, and confirming the disappearance of the Eastern Screech Owl from Central Park.

December Update: At least two Eastern Screech Owls are in the North Woods!  I’m happy to be wrong!