 ... WHOOO LOVES OWLS? ... |
September 23, 2009
Arcticulates ®
Focusing on Alaska's Beauty
Author: K. Fields
~~ Whooo Loves Owls? ~~
Alaska
has ten species of Owls, the Great Horned Owl is one of
them, and they are amazingly huge! One flew in
front of my car the other day, and it's wingspan covered my whole windshield.
Whenever I hear Owl stories I always seem to picture the cute
little Owls that they have on TV and Disney movies, so it was really
surprising to see how big they really are!
The Great Horned Owl of Alaska
Photo by: Richard Mitchell
In answer to whooo loves Owls? Is I sure do, they are such an
interesting looking bird. The almost don't even look like a bird with
their roundish shapes and great, big, giant eyes. It also
seems like they are able to turn their heads all the way around.
The Great Horned Owl's official name is BuBo Virginianus.
They can grow up to 25 inches in height, and are identified by the
distinguishing tufts of feathers on each side of their heads causing a
horned appearance, they are also identified by their white
feathered throat some call a bib. But to me... it looks like a mustache.
A Great Horned Owl perched on the Edge of the Nest
Photo by: Richard Mitchell
Their feathers range in browns, creams and black colors which help them to
blend into the wilderness around them. You really have to focus
hard on a tree in order to see them and their nests, they are experts
at blending in..
They have large heads which are prominent when they fly, and huge
yellow eyes. They seem to be wearing glasses, because of the
way the feathers and colors lay in circular effects around the eyes.
Standing Guard Over the Owlets in the Nest
Photo by: Richard Mitchell
The Great Horned Owls share the responsibilities of rising up the
young'uns, the male first entices the female to mate by giving her
gifts... like a mouse. She will sit with the eggs in the nest while he
hunts for food for both of them. They usually produce up to 3
eggs.
When the Owlets hatch they are blind and have a thin covering of downy
feathers. The parent Owls will bring them food about every 20
minutes during the night hours. As the babies grow
older, their feathers grow heavier, and they are given bigger items
to eat, and this is when they learn to tear apart their food. They
eventually leave the nest to catch their own food, but will live in
their parents nest for several months before they venture off on their
own.
Fuzzy Great Horned Owlet Peeking From the Nest
Photo by: Richard Mitchell
The Great Horned Owl is nocturnal but can be seen in broad daylight
often. They hunt mostly during the twilight hours or just before
dawn, when most nocturnal animals are hurrying off to their dens or nesting places to sleep and not paying attention..
They can build giant nests in tall trees or clefts in the rocky sides
of bluffs. Using lots of small sticks and branches as you can see by
these photos. The nests themselves are pieces of natural art.
It's amazing how they can take small sticks and plants and weave them
into this large sturdy nest, and they line the nests with their own
down feathers and mosses found in the wooded areas.
Two Great Horned Owlet Fuzzballs Waking Up!
Photo by: Richard Mitchell
These Owls are big enough to carry away small domesticated dogs and
cats, and it happens often in Alaska, they will swoop down right in
front of you and lift up the animal and fly off. They have
extremely good eyesight which is used for spotting a small animal,
including the white Ermines and Snowshoe Hare, which are nearly
impossible to see against white snow, and they have no problem
seeing in the dark!
Besides their very unique appearances, Owls as many other animals have
unusual legends and myths attached to them, for
instance: Wise, Noble, and Harbingers of Death.
Almost Camouflaged in the trees
Photo by: Richard Mitchell
These beautiful birds also have a habit of adopting a nest from a previous
bird tenant, like the Eagle, and they also like to nest in a natural
hollow of a large tree. The usually hunt in the open fields,
and near the edges of the wooded areas.
In the night season, you can hear the Great-Horned Owls hooting.. they have unique
hoot sound that seems to have a rhythm of 5 hoots in various
ways.. Like hoo-hoo, hoo, hoo-hoo. Or a hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo,
hoo. Is a deep hollow sound that resonates through
the quiet darkness. Both the male and female sing!
A Great Horned Owlet Calling "Mom... I'm hungry"
Photo by: Richard Mitchell
We quite often see the different owls here in the Interior, they are hard to get
good pictures of because of their nocturnal ways, the most common ones
I have seen are the Great Horned Owl and the Snowy Owl, and I am hoping
to be doing a post on the breathtakingly beautiful Snowy Owl soon.
Later...
K Fields
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September 23, 2009Arcticulates ®Focusing on Alaska's BeautyAuthor: K. Fields~~ Whooo Loves Owls? ~~Whenever I hear Owl stories I always seem to picture the cute little Owls that they have on TV and Disney movies, so it was really surprising to see how big they really are! The Great Horned Owl of Alaska
In answer to whooo loves Owls? Is I sure do, they are such an interesting looking bird. The almost don't even look like a bird with their roundish shapes and great, big, giant eyes. It also seems like they are able to turn their heads all the way around. The Great Horned Owl's official name is BuBo Virginianus. They can grow up to 25 inches in height, and are identified by the distinguishing tufts of feathers on each side of their heads causing a horned appearance, they are also identified by their white feathered throat some call a bib. But to me... it looks like a mustache. A Great Horned Owl perched on the Edge of the Nest
Their feathers range in browns, creams and black colors which help them to blend into the wilderness around them. You really have to focus hard on a tree in order to see them and their nests, they are experts at blending in.. They have large heads which are prominent when they fly, and huge yellow eyes. They seem to be wearing glasses, because of the way the feathers and colors lay in circular effects around the eyes. Standing Guard Over the Owlets in the Nest
The Great Horned Owls share the responsibilities of rising up the young'uns, the male first entices the female to mate by giving her gifts... like a mouse. She will sit with the eggs in the nest while he hunts for food for both of them. They usually produce up to 3 eggs. When the Owlets hatch they are blind and have a thin covering of downy feathers. The parent Owls will bring them food about every 20 minutes during the night hours. As the babies grow older, their feathers grow heavier, and they are given bigger items to eat, and this is when they learn to tear apart their food. They eventually leave the nest to catch their own food, but will live in their parents nest for several months before they venture off on their own. Fuzzy Great Horned Owlet Peeking From the Nest
The Great Horned Owl is nocturnal but can be seen in broad daylight often. They hunt mostly during the twilight hours or just before dawn, when most nocturnal animals are hurrying off to their dens or nesting places to sleep and not paying attention.. They can build giant nests in tall trees or clefts in the rocky sides of bluffs. Using lots of small sticks and branches as you can see by these photos. The nests themselves are pieces of natural art. It's amazing how they can take small sticks and plants and weave them into this large sturdy nest, and they line the nests with their own down feathers and mosses found in the wooded areas. Two Great Horned Owlet Fuzzballs Waking Up!
These Owls are big enough to carry away small domesticated dogs and cats, and it happens often in Alaska, they will swoop down right in front of you and lift up the animal and fly off. They have extremely good eyesight which is used for spotting a small animal, including the white Ermines and Snowshoe Hare, which are nearly impossible to see against white snow, and they have no problem seeing in the dark! Besides their very unique appearances, Owls as many other animals have unusual legends and myths attached to them, for instance: Wise, Noble, and Harbingers of Death. Almost Camouflaged in the trees
These beautiful birds also have a habit of adopting a nest from a previous bird tenant, like the Eagle, and they also like to nest in a natural hollow of a large tree. The usually hunt in the open fields, and near the edges of the wooded areas. In the night season, you can hear the Great-Horned Owls hooting.. they have unique hoot sound that seems to have a rhythm of 5 hoots in various ways.. Like hoo-hoo, hoo, hoo-hoo. Or a hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo, hoo. Is a deep hollow sound that resonates through the quiet darkness. Both the male and female sing! A Great Horned Owlet Calling "Mom... I'm hungry"
We quite often see the different owls here in the Interior, they are hard to get good pictures of because of their nocturnal ways, the most common ones I have seen are the Great Horned Owl and the Snowy Owl, and I am hoping to be doing a post on the breathtakingly beautiful Snowy Owl soon. Later... K Fields
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