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Owl...Always Love You

11/22/2014

3 Comments

 
I love owls. 

Owls are so stealthy. A powerful predator, owls can take down birds and mammals even larger than themselves. But what makes me understand their power is the fact that they can kill porcupines!   


I would never have noticed this Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) in the back yard if it didn't swoop off the nearby branch. It was mid morning and I'm sure this bird was asleep, so I think we both surprised each other. Lucky for me...I had the camera in tow. 

Picture
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owls are usually mottled gray-brown, with reddish brown faces and a neat white patch on the throat, but this birds face is rather light making me think it's fairly young. Looking at its lighter face color, small size and shorter ear tufts, I'd call it an immature bird. If it was a juvenile, there wouldn't be as noticeable an ear tuft, at all. Their overall color tone varies regionally with lighter tones found in the west. However, I still think the face would be darker on an adult bird.  
Picture
We Had A Stare Down.
After it (I can't tell the sex) relocated to another perch, we had a stare down. The bird rotated it's head 180 degrees around and back. Then it took off...in a flash.
Picture
Look at Those Feet!
  • When clenched, a Great Horned Owl’s strong talons require a force of 28 pounds to open. The owls use this deadly grip to sever the spine of large prey. Because
  • Great Horned Owls respond to intruders and other threats with bill-clapping, hisses, screams, and guttural noises, eventually spreading their wings and striking with their feet if the threat escalates, I'm so glad it left without hurting me for invading it's space.  


While I do love owls...I sure don't want one to pounce on my head! 
3 Comments
David
11/22/2014 05:50:07 pm

Wow! Isn't that awesome, right in your own yard! What a treat.

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Sherri Gerlach link
4/6/2015 03:45:29 am

Hi Kelly! Love your blog! Your hubby has shared some campsite info with us on the Popup Portal and he mentioned that you love to do birding and shared a link to your site as well. So neat!

There's so much in your archives that it'll keep me entertained for a very long time...thank you :)

My husband, Kenny, and I just saw that show on PBS about owls... you see it? We never knew that owl feathers weren't water-proof and that they can get hypothermia. Waah, that sad! At least in our state they don't have to worry so much. We're in Mesa, but hope to maybe take the PUP south one of these days and see the sky islands and some birds. Maybe meet you guys too :) That would be awesome. Be well, and hope we talk again soon. I gotta take my cat to the vet to get her teeth cleaned now. Bye!

Sherri

Reply
Kelly
4/6/2015 11:52:37 am

Hi Sherri,
Thanks for the note today! David did tell me about you and your hubby and how he met you in the forum. It sure would be fun to meet somewhere for a weekend camp out. We're always up for an adventure. Anyway, thanks again for stopping by my blog and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Maybe I will get motivated to write some more posts! Hope to meet you guys real soon...Kelly

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