TheBanyanTree: interesting sound at night

[Julie Anna Teague]

Quoting Sachet <MountainWhisper at att.net>:

> Does anyone know what the creature is that makes a ghostlike sound at
> night? It's softer and longer than an owl "whoo" and a superstitious
> soul would call it a ghost in the trees. I have never heard it before
> living here and can't place it. It comes from the same part of the
> woods on the mountain across the road every night. I like it, just
> wanna know what it might be.

I've heard this sound before, too, and wondered what it was, and after 
listening to owl sound sites, discovered it was the screech owl.  I 
love to hear owls in the night.  We have a great horned owl who visits 
from time to time.  I also love the night sounds of the whippoorwill 
who visits occasionally.  I've been saddened this summer to realize 
we've nearly gone through a whole "windows open" season without hearing 
my coyote friends howl in the woods near us.  Husband thought he heard 
them the other night, but after we listened closely, it was a siren.  
Sigh.

Julie