Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/135276
ASK OTUS Otus Rufous, an Eastern Screech-Owl, was born on Siesta Key and is a full-time resident there. An avid hunter, accomplished vocalist and genuine night owl, Otus is a keen observer of our local wildlife and knows many of nature's secrets. Otus will answer your questions about our amazing wildlife, but only if you Ask Otus. So please send your questions and photos to askotus@sarasotanewsleader.com. Thank you. WITH THE MYSTERY BIRD IDENTIFIED, AN EXCITING SUMMER LIES AHEAD FOR A CERTAIN WELL-KNOWN OWL Dear Readers, part, didn't you? Tricky of me? No, just simply wicked! Yes! The answer is the Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) in its juvenile form. It is a bit of a mystery to ornithologists that Many of you were puzzled by last week's the Little Blue Heron "... is the only heron spemystery bird because I had written, "Search cies in which first-year birds and adults show as hard as you can and you will never spot dramatically different coloration. First-year a single white feather in these Little Blue birds are pure white, while adults are blue." Heron photos!" What I had also written was Cornell Lab of Ornithology further expands that I was presenting you with photos of the on this subject under the delightful heading adult Little Blue Heron. You overlooked that of "COOL FACTS": An immature Little Blue Heron. File photo