“Owl,” said Rabbit shortly, “You and I have brains. The others have fluff. If there is any thinking to be done in this Forest—and when I say thinking, I mean thinking—you and I must do it.”
from House at Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne
from House at Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne
One of my favorite birds to photograph, I thought I should devote a separate page to Owls.
Great Horned Owl
The great Horned Owl is probably one of the most beautiful Raptors to exist. Their "ear" tufts make them unmistakable, and their hoots in the early morning hours are unmistakable. These are not the "who cooks for you" hoots that belong to the Barred owl, but rather an even deeper, spookier hoot. Listen near a forest in mid-January and you are very likely to hear these lovely creatures. Below are some photos that I have managed to capture at both the Mountsberg Raptor Center and the Canadian Raptor Concervancy (Links provided below).
Barred Owl
I've typically spotted these Owls nearer to wetlands, ponds and streams. These owls have the famous "who cooks for you" hoot which can seemingly be heard for miles on a quiet night. I've seen Barred Owls in the wild as well as at the Mountsberg Raptor Center. A truly beautiful animal.
Snowy Owl
When I was growing up, there was so much mystery and folklore surrounding the appearance of the snowy owl. It was said, they had come to take someone's soul to heaven. Science says, they go further south on years when their food supply is more sparse... something to do with lemming populations (look that one up ;-)). Around Southern Ontario on a snowy winter's day if you take a ride through farm country, odds are you may spot one sitting on a fence or a telephone pole (or a snowbank, in my case). Males are all white, while females and juvenile owls will have spots.
Eastern Screech Owl
I'm told these are numerous in the southern Ontario region, both in rural and urban regions. They are tiny creatures, often referred to as 'pocket owls'. You can find them (if you can actually spot one) in a hollowed out tree, usually camouflaged so well you initially mistake them for the bark of the tree. While I have never seen one in the wild, I do hear them occasionally at night from a distance.
Other Random Owl Pics:
Links:
Canadian Raptor Conservancy
Mountsberg Raptor Centre
Also - to note: I do not condone, and have never participated in (actually never seen) "Baiting" animals in order to capture photographs. The closest I come to this type of behaviour is backyard birdfeeders - just like everyone else.
Canadian Raptor Conservancy
Mountsberg Raptor Centre
Also - to note: I do not condone, and have never participated in (actually never seen) "Baiting" animals in order to capture photographs. The closest I come to this type of behaviour is backyard birdfeeders - just like everyone else.