This winter, tens of thousands of birdwatchers across North America will bundle up and brave the elements, all in the name of science.
The National Audubon Society's 114th annual Christmas Bird Count begins Saturday (Dec. 14). Volunteer citizen scientists in all 50 U.S. states, all Canadian provinces, and parts of Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands are set to take part in the yearly tradition, armed with bird guides, binoculars and checklists.
Owls, with their characteristically large eyes and penchant for being lone birds, are among the most easily identifiable birds in the world, often found as the “O subject” of countless alphabet flash cards for children.
Pivotal in the overall plot of the 2006 released movie, Hoot, the movie delved into how threatened certain owl species are, given how they are losing a lot of their natural habitats to urban human-population expansion.
As a species, owls consist of about 200 types of predatory birds, generally classified in two family types, the typical owl and the barn owl.
Generally, owls physically have larger sized eyes, smaller-sized beaks and wider-sized faces, with their nocturnal natures considered to be a basic attribute among owls, though not all owl species are only active at night.
Found in different parts of the world, different private individuals have kept owls as pets, though their keeping is not without its usual fair of regulations, permits and certificates.
Enclosures are almost always necessary in keeping owls as pets, given the fact that though certain pet owl owners have successfully domesticated them, the owl remains to be a wild bird – birds of prey, in fact.
In the wild, owls are expert hunters of insects, small mammals and even other birds. Some owl species are also quite skilled in catching fish, but rodents like field mice remain to be the owl’s generally preferred prey.
As nocturnal birds, the owl is built for the dark, with their capacity to adjust the focus of their eyes, leading to their keen eyesight. Speed is also one owl attribute that comes to their advantage, allowing them to quickly swipe their prey in a matter of milliseconds.
With their unique physique and their “grumpy old man look”, owls are certainly popular as birds, with their hoots considered to be another owl trademark that comes with the species.
In the movie Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, brother owls are kidnapped and taken by an evil owl king who wants to create an army of owls. One of the brothers escapes this fate and searches for the legendary Guardians, owls whose stories are told in myth, to ask their help in stopping the evil owl king. The brothers are separated, with each choosing their respective sides in the ensuing battle.
The animated film perhaps stands out for featuring hundreds of different species of owls, wonderful creatures best known for hunting at night. These nocturnal birds are known for their large, expressive eyes that shine in the dark. The large eyes of owls serve a utilitarian purpose, helping them see in the dark, especially when hunting at night.
Owls are carnivorous, living mainly off small birds, lizards, bugs and smaller mammals like mice. They have very good hearing and can turn their heads 270 degrees around.
Owls come in different shapes and sizes, with some just a few inches tall with others having wingspans that reach up to 10 feet. These birds of prey also come in different colors, depending on the environment and the species of the owl. Another characteristic that owls are known to have is their familiar sound or call. They make a “hoot” sound when they are excited or threatened. It’s also a form of communication with other owls.
Interestingly enough, owls have always been shrouded in mystery, perhaps due to their nocturnal behavior. In the past, these birds were linked to the supernatural and the occult, a sad label since they are actually harmless. In fact, if a person gets too close to them, they usually just fly off to another tree and stay as far away as possible. They are very solitary creatures, which means that they prefer to be alone. You can find owls everywhere around the world, from tropical islands to cold and snowy countries.
Scientists aren't sure why the owls, who spent much of their lives around the Arctic Circle, have arrived in such large numbers.
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