If You Can Make it There....

Look at the pics of this Long-Eared owl in the Inwood neighborhood in NYC.

It may seem odd to see an owl in the city but apparently the Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood has a park that has the last natural forest on Manhattan Island.  Seems that Inwood Hill Park has a good collection of birds.  So, our guess is the owl is not too far from home.  So, what is our friend doing among the high rises?  Well, Weezy, maybe they're just movin' on up.

Take a Look at this Place, Will Ya???

Parque Nacional del Este, according to The Nature Conservancy:

This national park is situated on the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic. The park’s intact coastal ecosystem provides prime habitat for hundreds of species of plants, birds, fish and other marine animals.

Eight species of birds are found only on Hispaniola, including the ashy-faced owl.

Table for One!!

What do Owls eat?
Depends on the species involved and, of course, what wine is on hand.

Some, like Screech Owl, feed on insects (I'm thinking a light, white, summer wine).
Others, like the Barn Owl, on mice (A Pinot) .
Some prefer fish (Asian fish Owl)  (A white for sure).
Other, larger owls (Eagle Owl) love a bit of hare or fox or duck (I'd go for the Cabernet Sauvignon or hearty Zin).

Remember to drink responsibly.

Off to the Actor's Retirement Home

A OWL who starred in a Harry Potter film has worked his magic to find a new home.

Yogi was left homeless when the Rescuers’ Animal Sanctuary, in Watlington Road, Benfleet, started clearing out animals in its care.

Luckily, Owls R Us, in Wakering Avenue, Shoebury, stepped in to offer the handsome bird a home.

Read More

We hope to hear more from Yogi when they do the HP retrospectives in about 5-10 years.

You're Pushing Too Hard On Me

This just in from the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, AZ:

The article notes: The owls, which still have a presence on some undeveloped land in the East Valley, are not endangered in Arizona but are protected under federal law. If found on a construction site, they must be safely removed and relocated.


“They used to be along every canal bank and vacant lot in Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek,” said Randy Babb, a biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Of course, now you can’t find a vacant lot or canal in those areas. All of those habitats are gone. … I don’t think we have the fear that they will disappear, but like other animals, they’ve suffered in the face of land abuse.”

Well all I want is to just be free,

Live my life the way I wanna be,

All I want is to just have fun,

Live my life like it's just begun,

But you're pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard,

On me...

(1960's flashback warning--do not click this link unless you were born before 1960)

Owls in Cave Paintings

Humans adorn all sorts of items with owl figures.  So, it's no surprise that about 30,00 years ago humans depicted owls on a cave in France.  The paintings in the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave contain the earliest paintings ever done by humans.

What these people thought of owls?  What species of owl were they painting?
Here's a photo of an owl depicted in the cave.  Let us know what species you think they were drawing.

Barn Owl Help

We came across some information regarding U.S. Barn Owl populations on the Barn Owl Box Company website.

They report that 9 states where barn owl populations are "endangered".

The 9 are:

Connecticut

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Michigan

Missouri

New Hampshire

Ohio

Wisconsin

Click on the state for more information from the state.  Some states provide range maps.

Owl Arrested for Public Drunkenness

An owl in Pforzheim, Germany was arrested for public drunkenness.  A woman walking her dog saw the owl sitting by the side of the road oblivious to passing traffic. When police arrived they did not need to give it a breathalyzer. The owl was staggering around with drooping eyelids. Apparently there were a couple of bottles of Schnapps nearby as well.

Actually, the police took the owl to a local expert who has treated "alcoholized birds" rather than put it in the drunk tank. The owl is being given plenty of water, and will be free to go when sober.

What's the most common owl?

Looks like it's the Barn Owl.  They are found on all continents (with the exception of the one where penguins rule).

What is the largest owl in the world?

I'm guessing that given, our last post it must be the Giant Owl.  Or the Grand Owl.  Right?


Nope.  


And in this corner....


The Eurasian Eagle Owl is about 23-29 inches in length and can weigh up to 7 pounds!
Whoa, Mama!  That's a big bird!!


The Great Gray Owl is about 24-33 inches in length and can weigh up to 4 pounds.


There's also another contender:  Blackiston's Fish Owl  stepping into the ring at 24-30 inches and weighing up to 10 pounds.


All 3 are big birds so pick your winner!


Eurasian Eagle Owl
Great Gray Owl
Blackiston's Fish Owl

What is the smallest owl in the world?

Well, this couldn't have been more obvious.
The two smallest owls are the...wait for it....


Northern Pygmy Owl and the Elf Owl.


Now we feel a little stupid for not knowing that off the bat.
Which one is smallest?  Depends on the individual owl to whom you happen to hold up a ruler.
The Northern Pygmy Owl is between 6 and 7 inches, while the Elf Owl is 5 inches to up to almost a foot tall.


Here's a small peek

She's Got Bette Davis Eyes

Do you know what the eye color of an owl tells you about an owl?
Some owls have dark colored eyes. Some have Orange eyes. Others have yellow eyes.
This is more than a fashion statement.

It turns out that, with most owl species, an owl with dark-colored eyes is a nocturnal (night-time) hunter.  Orange eyes? Hunts at dawn and dusk.
Yellow-eyed owls are out in the daytime (World of Owls).

Your Favorite Owl?

Owls have a long history in lore and mythology (Read More).  Here are some owl characters from modern western culture: 

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (Movie)

Hedwig, et al.(Harry Potter)
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat (Poem)
Owl (Winnie-the-Pooh)


Our fav is Owl from Winnie-the-Pooh.  Hoo's yours?


Tell us your favorite owl character from stage, screen or literature!