Early one morning in Inwood Hill Park a few days ago, a Barred Owl was minding its own business in the White Pines when Blue Jays began to take notice and noisily harass it. The miffed owl then flew from its comfy pine tree to a bare deciduous tree and eventually to another pine nearby. That’s when the fierce harassment began.
Anyone who wants to find hawks or owls knows to listen for a noisy band of Blue Jays. The Blue Jays find these large birds a threat and will dive-bomb them. The jays can be aggressive and get in the bird’s immediate space. It’s not easy to watch. Crows, mockingbirds, and other birds are also known to engage in mobbing.
Recent local social media reports, especially from Central Park, confirm the prevalence of this mobbing behavior. In addition to famous Flaco the Eurasian Eagle-Owl, and Geraldine, the park’s resident Great Horned Owl, a Long-eared Owl visited there recently. Bands of Blue Jays have harassed all these owls. In Inwood Hill Park, Blue Jays will also bother the Eastern Screech-Owl that is often seen high up above the Clove path.
I witnessed this particular mobbing from a respectful distance. The zoom range of my Nikon allowed me to capture the action. Mainly, a single Blue Jay was leading the harassment, so by definition that would be several birds short of an actual mob.
I am happy to report that the incident was over within thirty minutes and the Barred Owl prevailed.
Recent posts
- An Evening Walk with a Great Egret, and Spring Migration Report
On an early evening walk on May 11, I came across a Great Egret foraging near high tide at the Salt Marsh in Inwood Hill Park. I usually take my walks in the early morning, and the egret usually forages near times of low tide, so this was new for both of us. The Great… Read more: An Evening Walk with a Great Egret, and Spring Migration Report - Birds on the Forest Floor: Ovenbird and Veery
During spring migration season in an old-growth forest like Inwood Hill Park, be sure to look for birds wandering along the park paths or in the dense foliage near the ground. While we are often straining our necks looking for warblers and other small songbirds in the high canopy, some warblers like the Ovenbird or… Read more: Birds on the Forest Floor: Ovenbird and Veery - A Flurry of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Flickers Flickering, and a Great Egret Returns
Today, April 22, 2026, is Earth Day, a time to learn more about and advocate for the health of our home planet. The birds depend on us. A great thing about being out in nature in the morning is that a memorable morning with birds can last all day. Whatever I’m doing, whatever happens during… Read more: A Flurry of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Flickers Flickering, and a Great Egret Returns - The Kinglets of the Forest, with More Stories and Tech-Related Mishaps in the Age of Digital Birding
So tiny and fast. They were kinglets, and I saw both kinds this week in the forested areas of Inwood Hill Park. Kinglets are either golden-crowned or ruby-crowned, fast-moving, and constantly in search of insects. They may be distinguished by the color of their crowns and the coloring around the eyes. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet features… Read more: The Kinglets of the Forest, with More Stories and Tech-Related Mishaps in the Age of Digital Birding - Northern Mockingbird – The Bossiest Singer in the Park
Northern Mockingbirds are famous for their expressive and varied songs, often mimicking other birds. All this month, whenever I have had occasion to walk in Inwood Hill Park or Sherman Creek Park, I’ve come across a loud mockingbird singing its heart out.
Birds of Inwood 
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