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The Great Horned Owl has long, ear-like tufts (the "horns"), an intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and a deep hooting voice. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as scorpions, mice, and frogs. It's by far the most commonly seen and heard owl in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other habitat between the Arctic and the tropics. Great Horned Owls are nocturnal but are commonly seen at their roosts during the day. The Great Horned Owl is the only owl species that has been observed at Four Seasons and many residents have told me they've heard or seen these owls around our community. The first sighting of this bird during a club bird walk was just this past May, when a "murder" of cawing American Crows were mobbing a roosting a Great Horned Owl. ~ Steve Edelman Birding CLUB Bird of the Month The Birding Club welcomes beginning and experienced birders to start or hone bird identification skills. Our main activity is a monthly bird walk along Four Seasons' nature trails, which follow native riparian woodlands. We keep a list of all species observed at Four Seasons and take seasonal field trips to nearby birding hot spots. Our Spring Field Trip was to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. We somehow skirted the rain and on May 19 the sun shined on at least a half dozen each of Vermillion Flycatchers and Summer Tanagers, our target species, and more than a dozen excited birders! We had large numbers of Western Tanagers – one of several spring migrants that may be stacking up as their northward migration is stalled by the unusually late cold fronts. Other highlights included great looks at a fledgling Great Horned Owl (our Bird of the Month). We identified a total of 33 species. Most of us reconvened at Tacos & Beer for a well deserved lunch after some fun birding! We meet on the first Saturday of the month at 8 am at the Potrero Creek (Trail A) trailhead at The Lodge parking lot. Email steve.h.edelman@gmail.com for current schedule and information. ~ Steve Edelman FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2019 37 The third Wednesday this May was actually sunny. Our hikers headed up Hwy 243 to the forest service road at the 5000-foot elevation overlooking all of San Gorgonio Pass plus Cajon Pass to Yucca Valley. It was a good workout after so many rainy days. For more information, email Lynette at lynette.simonson@gmail.com (951) 377-0392. ~ Lynette Simonson TAKE A HIKE CLUB Top: Members pause for the camera while birding at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve on May 19. Above: Adult male Vermillion Flycatcher at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve on May 19. Photo by Club member Dave Kettering. Left: Fledgling Great Horned Owl at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve on May 19. Note the shedding downy feathers. Photo by John Hansen, Birding Club member and club co-leader. L-R: David Kershaw, Steve Edelman, Howard and Maureen Ochi, George Newsome, and Joe and Dianne Martinez.