87
Concord, Mass.
1913.
Aug. 26 
to 
Nov. 13 
(No 38) 

Nocturnal cries of the Screech Owl

95. Megascops asio. - Evidence of the presence of Screech Owls
at the Farm was afforded only, but not infrequently by their
nocturnal cries heard usually during the earlier part of the
night & oftenest of all when twilight was fading but the western
sky still glowing with rosy light. The commonest utterance
was the familiar wailing one and next to that the
succession of rolling whistles. On the evening of September 12 [September 12, 1913]
and again on that of October 21 [October 21, 1913], I heard a short,
gasping, throaty cry repeated several times at brief intervals.
It was rather loud and very impressive, suggesting the
choaking [choking] utterance of some human being in deep distress
and calling for help or trying to. Sometimes it sounded like
ah-h, again more like er-e. Neither of these renderings
conveys any idea of its agonised quality which positively
made me shudder as I listened. I have heard it before
but not often and always in summer or autumn, I believe.