Isaiah 34:
15 There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
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This photo is icky, but you can clearly see what species this silhouette is. S/he is sitting on the American Kestrel nesting box we put up last spring.
Great Horned Owl
I think this is the closest I’ve ever been to the big owl. I actually had gone in and out two times before I noticed this out of the corner of my eye. Something by the Kestrel box did not look right. Ooooh! I went back in to get the camera and to tell those who were awake. I stood in the front yard only where I had been before. I knew the picture would be pretty bad, but this was cool! I think it sat there for about 10-15 more minutes before flying east toward the creek.
I had been wondering if they were still in the area. We had not been waken by their night-song in awhile.
This owl species is why we don’t have any other owl species. Besides the delightful smelling skunk, the Great Horned also preys on other owls. I guess it doesn’t like the competition for aromatic delicacies. Actually, these owls will prey on just about anything. For the sensitivity of my readers, I will not list some of the more surprising prey.
We are waiting for Kestrels to take up residence, but maybe this is why they haven’t. ?? Starlings started to move in last year, but Papa boarded up the hole before they could get far in nest building. We were told they prefer having tree cover. As you see here, that’s not a problem. Also, the Kestrel hole is too large for their liking- 3 inches in diameter. No one told these Starlings they need smaller holes.
Unlike some owls, the Great Horned is not a cavity nester. They reuse a previously built nest (by some other bird) that is near the top of tall trees. They are a hearty bird; sometimes laying eggs in January. In these northern states, that is cold!
Great-horned owls are very interesting birds and we’re thankful that they nest in the neighbour’s woods so we get a look at them now and then. One morning I got up looked out our back bedroom window — and here were two young ones sitting on our garden shed roof. We eyed each other for awhile, then one flew away when I looked through the binoculars.
It seems owls & hawks that don’t mind you staring at them personally take offense at being eyed through binoculars and will leave right away. Any guesses why?
This is something I have been thinking about lately because I see a bird perched and want a photo or a closer look and like you, off they go. I do not know for sure, but I wonder if it is the reflection from the binocular or camera lenses. The flash of the movement might scare them off. especially if the sun hits it.
You may be right. Sometimes I’ve wondered if they, with THEIR binocular vision, can see our eyes looking at them when we look through binoculars? Something else to ask Jesus when we get to Heaven.
They very well might. And yes, so many things we hope to learn some day.
What a cool sighting! I know what you mean about grabbing your camera, spite lighting or anything – sometimes its more Important just to document the situation. Regardless it’s not a shabby picture; silhouettes make just as neat of a photo.
Thanks for sharing not only your experience, but also the scripture!
Kind of an somewhat ‘ominous’ photo ….like he really is looking for something!…Diane
It actually was looking for something. One of the children had taken several photos through the window and you could see its head turned in different ways.
I have a hard time spotting owls- glad you saw this one!
I am glad you came by. I have a hard time as well, but this one was nice, sitting out in the open. I have yet to see any of the other regular Iowa species. We barely saw a Long-eared owl last year during the CBC, it blended in perfectly with the trunk of a tree.