Can you hear me now?

Fascinating article from the Minneapolis Star & Tribune

Seems that owls that live in wooded environments, like the Great Horned Owl, have a low hoot because the trees are a barrier to higher frequency sounds.  Lower frequency sounds work better.  So, to be heard (like for mating, HELLO!!) they have developed a low hoot.

Listen to a Great Horned Owl vs the Burrowing Owl (grassland habitat).
 (audio from the Owl Pages)

It also seems that most birds don't hang near high noise areas like freeways because it makes it so difficult to be heard.

Check out the rest of the article-Fascinating!!