NOVEMBER IS THE TIME TO THINK OF TURKEYS, THOSE
WONDERFUL ONES WE EAT AND THOSE ONE MIGHT BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE IN THE WILD.
THE WILD TURKEY IS THE LARGEST OF THE UPLAND GAME BIRD SPECIES, IT IS A
DARK BIRD WITH A NAKED, BLUISH HEAD. THE MALE OR TOM IS BROWNISH BLACK WITH AN
IRIDESCENT SHEEN. THE WINGS HAVE BLACK AND WHITE BARRING. THE LONG TAIL HAS A
WIDE, BLACK BAND NEAR THE END, WITH A TIP OF VARYING COLOR. THE TOM HAS FOLDS OF
RED SKIN , CALLED WATTLES, UNDER THE CHIN; FLESHY , WARTLIKE CARUNCLES ON THE
NECK; AND A FINGERLIKE SNOOD DANGLING BESIDE THE BILL. A 4 TO 10 INCH PROJECTION
OF HAIRLIKE FEATHERS, CALLED A BEARD, EXTENDS FROM THE BREAST.
THE HEN IS SMALLER AND BROWNER THAN THE TOM , AND LACKS THE TOM'S HEAD
ADORNMENTS. THE JUVENILE MALE, OR JAKE, AND THE JUVENILE FEMALE, OR JENNY,
RESEMBLE HENS BY FALL, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE A DULLER, OR MOTTLED COLOR. BUT AFTER
THE FIRST YEAR, JAKES ARE LARGER THAN HENS, AND HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP A BEARD.
THERE ARE FIVE SUBSPECIES OF WILD TURKEY IN NORTH AMERICA AND TWO ARE
FOUND IN TEXAS. ONE IS THE EASTERN WILD TURKEY WHICH IS FOUND THROUGHOUT MOST OR
THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. IT HAS A COPPER-BRONZE SHEEN, AND ITS TAIL HAS A
CHOCOLATE-BROWN TIP. THE OTHER WILD TURKEY FOUND IN TEXAS IS THE RIO GRANDE WILD
TURKEY. IT IS AN OPEN-COUNTRY BIRD AND IT'S OVERALL BODY SHEEN IS A PALE COPPER,
AND THE TAIL HAS A YELLOWISH TIP.
TOMS BEGIN THEIR BREEDING DISPLAYS IN EARLY SPRING WITH TAIL FANNED,
FEATHERS FLUFFED AND WING TIPS DRAGGING, THE TOM STRUTS BOLDLY WHILE EMITING
LOW-PITCHED HUMS. HE REPEATS THE DISPLAY, COUPLED WITH THE CHARACTERISTIC GOBBLE
CALL UNTIL HE ATTRACTS A HEN. THE HENS SCRAPE A SHALLOW DEPRESSION , LINES IT
WITH LEAVES AND TWIGS AND LAYS 8 TO 14 BUFF-COLORED EGGS.
THE POPULATION OF WILD TURKEYS IS INCREASING DUE TO RESTORATION EFFORTS BY
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES, NORTH AMERICA HAS MORE WILD TURKEYS NOW THAN IT
DID DURING PRESETTLEMENT DAYS.
Past and current articles by Kathy Coward of Just for the Birds in Old Town Spring
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The House Finch
Now is the time of year when we see many baby birds
at our feeders. Just this week a saw three different baby birds at my feeder in
the back yard. One way you can tell they are baby birds, even though many are
the same size as the parents , is that they flap their wings and open their
mouths for the parents to feed them.
One of the babies I saw was a house finch. House finches are about 5 1/2 inches tall. The male has red on its head and upper breast and it has broad brown streaking on its lower breast and flanks. The female has a uniformly brown-streaked head and broad brown streaking on her breast and belly and her white undertail is usually streaked. They both have a short bill. They eat weed seeds, blossoms, fruits, buds and they love sunflowers at your feeder. If your hummingbird feeder is shaped so that this short billed bird can get into it they will also drink the nectar.
They make a nest of twigs, grasses, leaves, and debris in natural cavities such as foundation plantings, vines, hanging planters and occasionally birdhouses. They lay 2 to 6 eggs which are bluish white with speckles and have 1 to 3 broods a year. The babies are out of the nest and flying with the parents in about 12 to 16 days after the eggs are laid.
Sometimes in winter house finches form flocks and they are native to the western states. The house finch was introduced to the East in the New York City area in 1940 when pet dealers, being arrested for illegally selling House Finches as "Hollywood Finches" released the birds. Since then they have spread throughout the East and South.
Hope you see a baby bird at your feeder. Happy Spring.
One of the babies I saw was a house finch. House finches are about 5 1/2 inches tall. The male has red on its head and upper breast and it has broad brown streaking on its lower breast and flanks. The female has a uniformly brown-streaked head and broad brown streaking on her breast and belly and her white undertail is usually streaked. They both have a short bill. They eat weed seeds, blossoms, fruits, buds and they love sunflowers at your feeder. If your hummingbird feeder is shaped so that this short billed bird can get into it they will also drink the nectar.
They make a nest of twigs, grasses, leaves, and debris in natural cavities such as foundation plantings, vines, hanging planters and occasionally birdhouses. They lay 2 to 6 eggs which are bluish white with speckles and have 1 to 3 broods a year. The babies are out of the nest and flying with the parents in about 12 to 16 days after the eggs are laid.
Sometimes in winter house finches form flocks and they are native to the western states. The house finch was introduced to the East in the New York City area in 1940 when pet dealers, being arrested for illegally selling House Finches as "Hollywood Finches" released the birds. Since then they have spread throughout the East and South.
Hope you see a baby bird at your feeder. Happy Spring.
The American Robin - A Sign of Spring
Robins are a sign of Spring and even though we here
in Houston are in the year round range of the Robin we seem to see more at
Springtime. The American Robin is the most widespread songbird in North America
ranging from Alaska, Canada, and New-foundland to the highlands of Mexico and
Guatemala.
The male Robin is dark gray above, orange-brown below, white under the tail and has a bright yellow bill. The female Robin is similar to the male except she has more brown above and is pale reddish brown below. Their song is a lively ringing whistle which sounds like "cheeryup cheerily" and their calls include a "teek" and "tuk tuk tuk." The Robins nest is made of grass and mud and is usually placed on a limb of a tree or a building ledge. They have 3 to 7 light blue eggs with incubation taking 12 to 14 days and the nestlings fledge or leave the nest in 14 to 16 days. Robins will have 2 to 3 broods per season.
Robins hop around lawns, meadows and golf courses looking for earthworms. They also eat insects, fruit and berries. They will occasionally come to feeders for fruit (raisins or berries.) They will also use a birdbath.
Robins are much beloved symbols and Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin have chosen them as their state bird. Canada has a pair of Robins on their two dollar bill.
Enjoy the Robins and our wonderful Texas Spring.
The male Robin is dark gray above, orange-brown below, white under the tail and has a bright yellow bill. The female Robin is similar to the male except she has more brown above and is pale reddish brown below. Their song is a lively ringing whistle which sounds like "cheeryup cheerily" and their calls include a "teek" and "tuk tuk tuk." The Robins nest is made of grass and mud and is usually placed on a limb of a tree or a building ledge. They have 3 to 7 light blue eggs with incubation taking 12 to 14 days and the nestlings fledge or leave the nest in 14 to 16 days. Robins will have 2 to 3 broods per season.
Robins hop around lawns, meadows and golf courses looking for earthworms. They also eat insects, fruit and berries. They will occasionally come to feeders for fruit (raisins or berries.) They will also use a birdbath.
Robins are much beloved symbols and Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin have chosen them as their state bird. Canada has a pair of Robins on their two dollar bill.
Enjoy the Robins and our wonderful Texas Spring.
The Great Road Runner
would like to be a roadrunner on some of these
hot summer days so that I could run really fast to the shade or the
airconditioning. Here are some interesting facts on the greater roadrunner. They
once lived only in dry open areas in the Southwest, but they now have expanded
their range eastward to open woods and grasslands and we have them here in East
Texas Greater Roadrunners are members of the cuckoo family, they have two toes
pointing forward and two facing backward, making a X footprint. Their sound is a
"coo,coo, coo, ooh, ooh, ooh."
They really can run fast and have been clocked up to 20mph. Early settlers named these birds roadrunners because they ran ahead of the horse-drawn wagons, catching lizards, rattlesnakes, scorpions, mice and other small animals. Male and female roadrunners appear identical and they mate for life. Both parents build a shallow 1 foot nest in a small tree or a clump of cacti. The female lays three to six white or yellowish eggs. The young will be able to catch food on their own within 3 weeks after hatching.
I hope you are lucky enough to hear the coo ,coo of the roadrunner and then to see one or have one around your yard or garden to eat any pesky varmits.
They really can run fast and have been clocked up to 20mph. Early settlers named these birds roadrunners because they ran ahead of the horse-drawn wagons, catching lizards, rattlesnakes, scorpions, mice and other small animals. Male and female roadrunners appear identical and they mate for life. Both parents build a shallow 1 foot nest in a small tree or a clump of cacti. The female lays three to six white or yellowish eggs. The young will be able to catch food on their own within 3 weeks after hatching.
I hope you are lucky enough to hear the coo ,coo of the roadrunner and then to see one or have one around your yard or garden to eat any pesky varmits.
The Penquin
WHEN OUR JANUARY WINDS BLOW COLD I AM ALWAYS
REMINDED OF THE BIRD I MOST ASSOCIATE WITH ICE AND SNOW.
YES, A PENGUIN IS A BIRD. IT IS AN ANIMAL THAT HAS FEATHERS AND IS WARM BLOODED. IT HATCHES FROM AN EGG AND HAS A BACKBONE. IT HAS A BEAK, TWO LEGS, AND TWO WINGS. ANCESTORS OF PENGUINS PROBABLY WERE ABLE TO FLY BUT TODAY'S PENGUINS FLY ONLY UNDER WATER. THEIR AVERAGE SWIMMING SPEED IS 15 MILES PER HOUR. PENGUINS LIVE ONLY BELOW THE EQUATOR. SOME COME ASHORE ON ANTARCTICA, FRIGID HOME OF THE SOUTH POLE . OTHER PENGUINS DO NOT LIVE IN COLD PLACES. THEY ARE FOUND ON THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, AND NEW ZEALAND.
THERE ARE 17 SPECIES OF PENGUINS AND NO TWO ARE EXACTLY ALIKE. SOME HAVE ORANGE HEAD TUFTS THAT LOOK LIKE CRAZY EYEBROWS. SOME HAVE BUSHY TAILS. SOME ARE AGGRESSIVE AND OTHERS ARE MILD-MANNERED.
PENGUINS EAT FISH,,CRUSTACEANS,SQUID AND KRILL. KRILL ARE TINY SHRIMPLIKE ANIMALS FOUND IN ENORMOUS NUMBERS AND PENGUINS EAT TONS OF KRILL EVERY DAY. SURROUNDED BY SALTWATER, PENGUINS CAN'T GET FRESH WATER TO DRINK. THEIR BODIES MAKE FRESH WATER FOR THEM. THEY HAVE A GLAND THAT REMOVES THE SALT FROM THE WATER AND RELEASES IT THROUGH GROOVES IN THEIR BILL.
MOST PENGUINS STICK TO THE SAME PARTNER. ALL PENGUIN PAIRS SING A DUET AS PART OF THEIR COURTING DISPLAY, AND IT IS NOT JUST FOR ENTERTAINMENT. THEY LEARN TO RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S VOICE. IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF LOOK-ALIKES IN A ROOKERY. CHICKS AND PARENTS RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S CALLS AND ALWAYS FIND ONE ANOTHER. EVEN WHILE THE CHICK IS BREAKING OUT OF ITS EGG, IT IS CALLING SO ITS PARENTS WILL GET TO KNOW ITS VOICE.
PENGUINS USUALLY LAY ONE EGG BUT MAY LAY TWO , SOMETIMES ONLY ONE SURVIVES. AS SOON AS EGGS ARE LAID, THE FEMALE HEADS FOR THE SEA TO FIND FOOD. THE MALE STAYS WITH THE EGGS. BY THE TIME THE FEMALE RETURNS, THE MALES HAVEN'T EATEN FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. THEN IT'S HIS TURN TO EAT WHILE SHE STAYS WITH THE EGG. FOOD FOR CHICKS COMES STRAIGHT FROM A PARENT'S MOUTH. THE ADULTS RETURN WITH UNDIGESTED FOOD STORED IN THEIR CROP, A SPECIAL POUCH IN THE THROAT. A CHICK FITS ITS BILL INSIDE THE ADULT'S MOUTH TO RECEIVE THE FOOD. AN EMPEROR PARENT MAY DELIVER SEVEN POUNDS OF FOOD AT A TIME TO ITS CHICK. MALE KING PENGUINS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO PRESERVE FOOD IN THEIR STOMACHS FOR UP TO THREE WEEKS IN ORDER TO FEED IT TO NEWLY HATCHED CHICKS.
PENGUINS ARE NOISY, SOCIAL CREATURES. THEY WILL GLADLY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER'S YOUNG. MOST PENGUINS ARE MATURE AT 4 YEARS OF AGE AND THEY LIVE BETWEEN 25 AND 30 YEARS.
YES, A PENGUIN IS A BIRD. IT IS AN ANIMAL THAT HAS FEATHERS AND IS WARM BLOODED. IT HATCHES FROM AN EGG AND HAS A BACKBONE. IT HAS A BEAK, TWO LEGS, AND TWO WINGS. ANCESTORS OF PENGUINS PROBABLY WERE ABLE TO FLY BUT TODAY'S PENGUINS FLY ONLY UNDER WATER. THEIR AVERAGE SWIMMING SPEED IS 15 MILES PER HOUR. PENGUINS LIVE ONLY BELOW THE EQUATOR. SOME COME ASHORE ON ANTARCTICA, FRIGID HOME OF THE SOUTH POLE . OTHER PENGUINS DO NOT LIVE IN COLD PLACES. THEY ARE FOUND ON THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, AND NEW ZEALAND.
THERE ARE 17 SPECIES OF PENGUINS AND NO TWO ARE EXACTLY ALIKE. SOME HAVE ORANGE HEAD TUFTS THAT LOOK LIKE CRAZY EYEBROWS. SOME HAVE BUSHY TAILS. SOME ARE AGGRESSIVE AND OTHERS ARE MILD-MANNERED.
PENGUINS EAT FISH,,CRUSTACEANS,SQUID AND KRILL. KRILL ARE TINY SHRIMPLIKE ANIMALS FOUND IN ENORMOUS NUMBERS AND PENGUINS EAT TONS OF KRILL EVERY DAY. SURROUNDED BY SALTWATER, PENGUINS CAN'T GET FRESH WATER TO DRINK. THEIR BODIES MAKE FRESH WATER FOR THEM. THEY HAVE A GLAND THAT REMOVES THE SALT FROM THE WATER AND RELEASES IT THROUGH GROOVES IN THEIR BILL.
MOST PENGUINS STICK TO THE SAME PARTNER. ALL PENGUIN PAIRS SING A DUET AS PART OF THEIR COURTING DISPLAY, AND IT IS NOT JUST FOR ENTERTAINMENT. THEY LEARN TO RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S VOICE. IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF LOOK-ALIKES IN A ROOKERY. CHICKS AND PARENTS RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S CALLS AND ALWAYS FIND ONE ANOTHER. EVEN WHILE THE CHICK IS BREAKING OUT OF ITS EGG, IT IS CALLING SO ITS PARENTS WILL GET TO KNOW ITS VOICE.
PENGUINS USUALLY LAY ONE EGG BUT MAY LAY TWO , SOMETIMES ONLY ONE SURVIVES. AS SOON AS EGGS ARE LAID, THE FEMALE HEADS FOR THE SEA TO FIND FOOD. THE MALE STAYS WITH THE EGGS. BY THE TIME THE FEMALE RETURNS, THE MALES HAVEN'T EATEN FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. THEN IT'S HIS TURN TO EAT WHILE SHE STAYS WITH THE EGG. FOOD FOR CHICKS COMES STRAIGHT FROM A PARENT'S MOUTH. THE ADULTS RETURN WITH UNDIGESTED FOOD STORED IN THEIR CROP, A SPECIAL POUCH IN THE THROAT. A CHICK FITS ITS BILL INSIDE THE ADULT'S MOUTH TO RECEIVE THE FOOD. AN EMPEROR PARENT MAY DELIVER SEVEN POUNDS OF FOOD AT A TIME TO ITS CHICK. MALE KING PENGUINS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO PRESERVE FOOD IN THEIR STOMACHS FOR UP TO THREE WEEKS IN ORDER TO FEED IT TO NEWLY HATCHED CHICKS.
PENGUINS ARE NOISY, SOCIAL CREATURES. THEY WILL GLADLY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER'S YOUNG. MOST PENGUINS ARE MATURE AT 4 YEARS OF AGE AND THEY LIVE BETWEEN 25 AND 30 YEARS.
The Screech of the Owl
HAPPY OCTOBER, IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT OWLS
AGAIN....
AS BIRDS OF THE NIGHT, OWLS HAVE OFTEN BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH MONSTERS, WITCHES, AND THE COMING OF DEATH IN MANY NATIVE CULTURES OF NORTH AMERICA. ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THE CALL OF AN OWL MIGHT BE AN OMEN OF ILL FORTUNE, OWLS WERE NOT ALWAYS SEEN AS BEARERS OF BAD TIDINGS. THE SCREECH OWL OFTEN NESTED CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF AN INDIAN VILLAGE, GIVING A DISTINCTIVE CALL WHEN SOMEONE DISTURBED IT LATE AT NIGHT. THE OWL WAS KNOWN AS THE VILLAGE GUARDIAN-ONE WHO GIVES WARNING AGAINST DANGEROUS INTRUDERS.
PERHAPS OWLS ARE POPULAR IN STORIES BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE SMALL HUMANS.OWLS STAND UPRIGHT. THEIR SLANTING BEAKS LOOK ALMOST LIKE HUMAN NOSES. OWLS STARE WITH HUGE, UNBLINKING EYES. THEY MAY APPEAR WISE OR STUDIOUS. THE TRUTH IS ,OWLS ARE NO MORE OR LESS WISE THAN ANY OTHER BIRDS. THEY ARE JUST SKILLFUL HUNTERS WITH SPECIAL TOOLS, INCLUDING AMAZING EYES.
MOST OWLS HUNT AT NIGHT. THE WAY THEY SKIM MEADOWS OR SWOOP THROUGH FORESTS ON SILENT WINGS ADDS TO THEIR AURA OF MYSTERY. OFTEN, THE ONLY CLUE OF AN OWL'S PRESENCE IS A SPINE-CHILING SHRIEK OR A GHOSTLY WHOO-WHOO-WHOO OWLS CALL TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER OWLS. THEY DO NOT BRING NEWS OF ANY KIND TO PEOPLE- EXCEPT THE GOOD NEWS THAT AN OWL LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEIR ARE OVER 150 SPECIES OF OWLS WORLDWIDE. NINETEEN SPECIES LIVE IN NORTH AMERICA.OWLS IN OUR AREA NEAR OLD TOWN SPRING ARE THE GREAT HORNED OWL, THE BARN OWL, AND THE EASTERN SCREECH OWL.
OWLS ARE MEAT-EATERS. THEY FEED ON ANIMALS THAT FEED ON OTHER ANIMAL OR PLANTS. LARGE OWLS TEND TO HUNT LARGE PREY. GREAT HORNED OWLS EAT PRACTICALLY ANYTHING MEATY THEY CAN CATCH, FROM RABBITS AND SKUNKS TO INSECTS AND OTHER OWLS. SOME OWLS HUNT SMALL PREY, SUCH AS INSECTS, SPIDERS, AND SCORPIONS. OTHER SMALL BUT FIERCE OWLS CATCH BIRDS, REPTILES, AND MAMMALS ALMOST AS LARGE AS THEMSELVES.
AS BIRDS OF THE NIGHT, OWLS HAVE OFTEN BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH MONSTERS, WITCHES, AND THE COMING OF DEATH IN MANY NATIVE CULTURES OF NORTH AMERICA. ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THE CALL OF AN OWL MIGHT BE AN OMEN OF ILL FORTUNE, OWLS WERE NOT ALWAYS SEEN AS BEARERS OF BAD TIDINGS. THE SCREECH OWL OFTEN NESTED CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF AN INDIAN VILLAGE, GIVING A DISTINCTIVE CALL WHEN SOMEONE DISTURBED IT LATE AT NIGHT. THE OWL WAS KNOWN AS THE VILLAGE GUARDIAN-ONE WHO GIVES WARNING AGAINST DANGEROUS INTRUDERS.
PERHAPS OWLS ARE POPULAR IN STORIES BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE SMALL HUMANS.OWLS STAND UPRIGHT. THEIR SLANTING BEAKS LOOK ALMOST LIKE HUMAN NOSES. OWLS STARE WITH HUGE, UNBLINKING EYES. THEY MAY APPEAR WISE OR STUDIOUS. THE TRUTH IS ,OWLS ARE NO MORE OR LESS WISE THAN ANY OTHER BIRDS. THEY ARE JUST SKILLFUL HUNTERS WITH SPECIAL TOOLS, INCLUDING AMAZING EYES.
MOST OWLS HUNT AT NIGHT. THE WAY THEY SKIM MEADOWS OR SWOOP THROUGH FORESTS ON SILENT WINGS ADDS TO THEIR AURA OF MYSTERY. OFTEN, THE ONLY CLUE OF AN OWL'S PRESENCE IS A SPINE-CHILING SHRIEK OR A GHOSTLY WHOO-WHOO-WHOO OWLS CALL TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER OWLS. THEY DO NOT BRING NEWS OF ANY KIND TO PEOPLE- EXCEPT THE GOOD NEWS THAT AN OWL LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEIR ARE OVER 150 SPECIES OF OWLS WORLDWIDE. NINETEEN SPECIES LIVE IN NORTH AMERICA.OWLS IN OUR AREA NEAR OLD TOWN SPRING ARE THE GREAT HORNED OWL, THE BARN OWL, AND THE EASTERN SCREECH OWL.
OWLS ARE MEAT-EATERS. THEY FEED ON ANIMALS THAT FEED ON OTHER ANIMAL OR PLANTS. LARGE OWLS TEND TO HUNT LARGE PREY. GREAT HORNED OWLS EAT PRACTICALLY ANYTHING MEATY THEY CAN CATCH, FROM RABBITS AND SKUNKS TO INSECTS AND OTHER OWLS. SOME OWLS HUNT SMALL PREY, SUCH AS INSECTS, SPIDERS, AND SCORPIONS. OTHER SMALL BUT FIERCE OWLS CATCH BIRDS, REPTILES, AND MAMMALS ALMOST AS LARGE AS THEMSELVES.
The State Bird of Texas
HAPPY OCTOBER, IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT OWLS
AGAIN....
AS BIRDS OF THE NIGHT, OWLS HAVE OFTEN BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH MONSTERS, WITCHES, AND THE COMING OF DEATH IN MANY NATIVE CULTURES OF NORTH AMERICA. ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THE CALL OF AN OWL MIGHT BE AN OMEN OF ILL FORTUNE, OWLS WERE NOT ALWAYS SEEN AS BEARERS OF BAD TIDINGS. THE SCREECH OWL OFTEN NESTED CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF AN INDIAN VILLAGE, GIVING A DISTINCTIVE CALL WHEN SOMEONE DISTURBED IT LATE AT NIGHT. THE OWL WAS KNOWN AS THE VILLAGE GUARDIAN-ONE WHO GIVES WARNING AGAINST DANGEROUS INTRUDERS.
PERHAPS OWLS ARE POPULAR IN STORIES BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE SMALL HUMANS.OWLS STAND UPRIGHT. THEIR SLANTING BEAKS LOOK ALMOST LIKE HUMAN NOSES. OWLS STARE WITH HUGE, UNBLINKING EYES. THEY MAY APPEAR WISE OR STUDIOUS. THE TRUTH IS ,OWLS ARE NO MORE OR LESS WISE THAN ANY OTHER BIRDS. THEY ARE JUST SKILLFUL HUNTERS WITH SPECIAL TOOLS, INCLUDING AMAZING EYES.
MOST OWLS HUNT AT NIGHT. THE WAY THEY SKIM MEADOWS OR SWOOP THROUGH FORESTS ON SILENT WINGS ADDS TO THEIR AURA OF MYSTERY. OFTEN, THE ONLY CLUE OF AN OWL'S PRESENCE IS A SPINE-CHILING SHRIEK OR A GHOSTLY WHOO-WHOO-WHOO OWLS CALL TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER OWLS. THEY DO NOT BRING NEWS OF ANY KIND TO PEOPLE- EXCEPT THE GOOD NEWS THAT AN OWL LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEIR ARE OVER 150 SPECIES OF OWLS WORLDWIDE. NINETEEN SPECIES LIVE IN NORTH AMERICA.OWLS IN OUR AREA NEAR OLD TOWN SPRING ARE THE GREAT HORNED OWL, THE BARN OWL, AND THE EASTERN SCREECH OWL.
OWLS ARE MEAT-EATERS. THEY FEED ON ANIMALS THAT FEED ON OTHER ANIMAL OR PLANTS. LARGE OWLS TEND TO HUNT LARGE PREY. GREAT HORNED OWLS EAT PRACTICALLY ANYTHING MEATY THEY CAN CATCH, FROM RABBITS AND SKUNKS TO INSECTS AND OTHER OWLS. SOME OWLS HUNT SMALL PREY, SUCH AS INSECTS, SPIDERS, AND SCORPIONS. OTHER SMALL BUT FIERCE OWLS CATCH BIRDS, REPTILES, AND MAMMALS ALMOST AS LARGE AS THEMSELVES.
ENJOY OUR FALL AND I HOPE YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HEAR OR SEE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OWLS.
AS BIRDS OF THE NIGHT, OWLS HAVE OFTEN BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH MONSTERS, WITCHES, AND THE COMING OF DEATH IN MANY NATIVE CULTURES OF NORTH AMERICA. ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THE CALL OF AN OWL MIGHT BE AN OMEN OF ILL FORTUNE, OWLS WERE NOT ALWAYS SEEN AS BEARERS OF BAD TIDINGS. THE SCREECH OWL OFTEN NESTED CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF AN INDIAN VILLAGE, GIVING A DISTINCTIVE CALL WHEN SOMEONE DISTURBED IT LATE AT NIGHT. THE OWL WAS KNOWN AS THE VILLAGE GUARDIAN-ONE WHO GIVES WARNING AGAINST DANGEROUS INTRUDERS.
PERHAPS OWLS ARE POPULAR IN STORIES BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE SMALL HUMANS.OWLS STAND UPRIGHT. THEIR SLANTING BEAKS LOOK ALMOST LIKE HUMAN NOSES. OWLS STARE WITH HUGE, UNBLINKING EYES. THEY MAY APPEAR WISE OR STUDIOUS. THE TRUTH IS ,OWLS ARE NO MORE OR LESS WISE THAN ANY OTHER BIRDS. THEY ARE JUST SKILLFUL HUNTERS WITH SPECIAL TOOLS, INCLUDING AMAZING EYES.
MOST OWLS HUNT AT NIGHT. THE WAY THEY SKIM MEADOWS OR SWOOP THROUGH FORESTS ON SILENT WINGS ADDS TO THEIR AURA OF MYSTERY. OFTEN, THE ONLY CLUE OF AN OWL'S PRESENCE IS A SPINE-CHILING SHRIEK OR A GHOSTLY WHOO-WHOO-WHOO OWLS CALL TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER OWLS. THEY DO NOT BRING NEWS OF ANY KIND TO PEOPLE- EXCEPT THE GOOD NEWS THAT AN OWL LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEIR ARE OVER 150 SPECIES OF OWLS WORLDWIDE. NINETEEN SPECIES LIVE IN NORTH AMERICA.OWLS IN OUR AREA NEAR OLD TOWN SPRING ARE THE GREAT HORNED OWL, THE BARN OWL, AND THE EASTERN SCREECH OWL.
OWLS ARE MEAT-EATERS. THEY FEED ON ANIMALS THAT FEED ON OTHER ANIMAL OR PLANTS. LARGE OWLS TEND TO HUNT LARGE PREY. GREAT HORNED OWLS EAT PRACTICALLY ANYTHING MEATY THEY CAN CATCH, FROM RABBITS AND SKUNKS TO INSECTS AND OTHER OWLS. SOME OWLS HUNT SMALL PREY, SUCH AS INSECTS, SPIDERS, AND SCORPIONS. OTHER SMALL BUT FIERCE OWLS CATCH BIRDS, REPTILES, AND MAMMALS ALMOST AS LARGE AS THEMSELVES.
ENJOY OUR FALL AND I HOPE YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HEAR OR SEE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OWLS.
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