“Hooo, hoo-hoo, HOOO! HOOO!” It is October, and once again a Great Horned Owl is sitting in the dead “Owl Tree” opposite our house - where he frequently perches from dusk until dawn. Sometimes his hooting wakes us up. This time, although it’s four in the morning, we hurry to the window.
Through a small telescope that Kirk set up in advance, we can see the owl’s feather “horns” fluttering in the wind. “Hooooo, hoo-hoo…” He barely moves until his final “HOOO! HOOO!” when he bows forward twice, as if for added emphasis.
Known for silent flight and sensitive hearing, owls are formidable hunters in the dark. But there is another reason that Our Owl can hunt successfully at night -- and it’s the same reason we were able to accurately position our telescope. Owls have sedentary habits, hunting in the same territory night after night. Familiarity with a favorite perching area - including the height of the branch - can be essential to an owl’s ability to pounce on its prey. Remarkable auditory systems replace the absence of sight, and being a creature of habit allows the owl to see anything out of the ordinary. Not surprisingly then, most Great Horned Owls do not migrate, but maintain permanent territories throughout the year.
This month find a quiet place and listen for Great Horned Owls. If you’re lucky enough to see one, you may have found your very own “Owl Tree. “
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