[cjaro]

Barred Owls can make a terrifying squawk/yell/howl noise! Juveniles will make the noises as well to call to their parents. I heard a family of 5 BAOW this past summer (also upper Midwest here) and got to observe them all communicating and the parents hunting around dusk. It was magical and I got to hear these owl calls in the wild.

[mikeyouse]

I've definitely seen barred owls in the area, so I bet that was it. Thanks for the tip, magical is a great way to describe it. Actually turned off the TV / lights last night when we heard them calling and just sat in the dark and listened.