Superbowl

From Paul Katinas

Barred Owl with its Barred Owlet. Love how the little one is already so sulky looking!

From Larry Bridge

Fledgling Great Horned Owl at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge

It looks more graceful than a teenager learning to drive a car! 😜

From the Santa Barbara Independent

A tiny owl stranded at sea surprised a local crew boat on the morning of October 6. The boat, which was shuttling workers from the Goleta Pier to Platform Holly, found the western burrowing owl floating in the ocean two miles offshore.

The crew, captains Daniel Madison, Amor Cueva, and Jerry Gereminanao and engineer, Eric Benavidez, of SoCal Ship Services, were heading to the site of Holly’s ongoing decommissioning project. But they stopped to help the little bird — an important member of a declining native species.

“We often see different seabirds who need assistance, but we have never seen an owl in the water,” Captain Madison shared.

After bringing the boat alongside the owl, the crew scooped the bird out of the water using a bucket. It was cold, exhausted, and barely moving, so the crew wrapped it up in towels and let it hang out in the engine room to keep it safe and dry until they could get it to land.

Later, when the boat returned to the Goleta Pier, Angela Rauhut, a volunteer and rescuer with the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network (SBWCN), was waiting for them. She transported the bird to their wildlife hospital on Fairview Avenue, where it was taken immediately into care.

According to the SBWCN, burrowing owls may migrate across the Santa Barbara Channel, so this owl may have been heading to or from the Channel Islands or was diverted by coastal wind or fog. However, the exact circumstances of how it got in the water remain unknown.

These small, 7-10-inch owls prefer open areas like grasslands and deserts, nesting underground in burrows often made by other animals, the SBWCN said. They are certainly not cut out for life at sea.

The owl was in sorry shape when it arrived at the hospital. During its fight for survival in the Pacific Ocean, it got covered in oil, disabling its ability to fly and keep itself warm.

International Bird Rescue Hospital staff diagnosed it with minor oil contamination on its wings and chin, and moderate dehydration. The bird also had swelling in its left leg and a small laceration on its tongue, likely from biting itself during the stressful transport, according to the SBWCN.

In Santa Barbara, the owl was stabilized, fed, and treated to the best of SBWCN’s ability, before being transferred to the specialized hands of their partner organization, the International Bird Rescue, in San Pedro on October 8. Once stabilized, caretakers treated the bird to break down the oil and washed it using dish soap.

The washing process, led by Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician Jeanette Bates and Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern Roaa Abdalla, required extra care and a light sedation. It took 30 minutes of gentle, meticulous cleaning to remove all the oil.

After receiving a top-notch wash and dry from the Bird Rescue, it was transferred back to the SBWCN, where it continued to regain strength and flight stamina while housed in an aviary.

Over the next few days, the owl’s condition fluctuated, the SBWCN said in a press release.“By October 19, the owl’s weight had stabilized at 140 grams, and its feather quality was good, with only minor scabbing on its wings,” it continued.

The owl was still mildly dehydrated after 16 days in care, but was nearing a full recovery. Its leg and tongue eventually healed, with “only a broken tail feather” remaining “as a reminder of its ordeal,” the Care Network said.

This little bird is part of a larger story of conservation. Its species has declined dramatically across California, having been nearly wiped out from a third of its former range. The California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously earlier this month to make the bird a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act, which will give it protection for the next 12-18 months while wildlife officials decide whether it deserves permanent status as a “threatened” or “endangered” species.

Among other threats such as cars and rodenticide, burrowing owls are losing space to nest and breed due to urban sprawl, agriculture, and clean energy projects and development, including solar farms. Environmental groups are pushing for more renewable energy, but conservationists want the birds’ precious breeding grounds — and their squatters’ rights in other critters’ burrows — to be protected.

For the formerly adrift owl, extra care and attention made the difference between life and death. “It was released to rejoin its migratory path on October 22,” the SBWCN said, “and is now living its best life back in the wild thanks to the work of this amazing community network that helps protect wildlife!”

From The Raptor Center

We recently admitted a very special patient into TRC's hospital; only the 4th of its species in our 50 year history. This hatch-year raptor is the elusive American barn owl, a species of owl not commonly found in Minnesota. It is a rare treat to receive a call to help save one in need.

The young barn owl was patient 964 on our road to admitting the 1,000th patient of 2024; we are on track to possibly have the busiest year in our 50-year history. This owl came to our hospital after we received a call about a bird who struck a window in Edina and was on the finder's balcony unable to fly away.

A thorough examination by our veterinarian staff found that the barn owl was experiencing acute head trauma, meaning a few days of "bed" rest, fluids, nutrition, and pain medication was all our owl needed to make a full recovery.

Before being cleared for release, we examined the young owl's flight and endurance. Hatch-year barn owls can travel hundreds of miles from their families' nest in search of nesting territory of their own. We released this barn owl back to the wild where you might just hear that iconic screech haunting the night sky this Halloween.

From Cynthia Rand

Just for fun, as today is Halloween, I found the scariest of all my photos! This is a Screech Owl pair that were in the middle of their yearly molt. Adding to the the scary look, I photographed them way before sunrise so their pupils were still fully dilated!

They're still adorable to me! 🥰

From New Mexico Wildlife Center

Happy Halloween! In today's Creature Feature, we're highlighting a species that faces the scariest threat of all: extinction. There are three subspecies of Spotted Owl, two of which are listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, and the other is a Species of Special Concern in its native California. New Mexico is home to one of the Threatened subspecies, the Mexican Spotted Owl.

Spotted Owls are medium-sized owls with a prominent round facial disc and dark eyes. Their feathers are brown with pale spots, perfect for camouflage in a dense forest. Mexican Spotted Owls are the lightest-colored subspecies; in this photo of former NMWC Ambassador Animal Manchado you can see the almost golden color that sets them apart from the chocolate-colored Northern Spotted Owl!

Spotted Owls have very specific habitat requirements; they strongly prefer living in old-growth forests with dense cover created by large trees. Conservation of these habitats is critical to the survival of the species, and the human practice of logging has famously put these owls at risk Spotted Owls sometimes nest in tree cavities or the tops of broken tree snags, which means they rely on the availability of trees old and large enough to nest in. Mexican Spotted Owls in particular also nest on cliffs or in bunches of mistletoe on trees.

Unlike their close Barred Owl relatives, who eat a wide variety of prey types, Spotted Owls eat almost exclusively small mammals like rodents, rabbits, and bats. Native species like wood rats, bats, and deer mice make up most of the diet of Mexican Spotted Owls. Spotted Owls are not especially big raptors - they weigh about a pound and a quarter - so they focus their hunting efforts on the small mammals that also call dense forests home

Habitat loss is the main threat to Spotted Owls, along with the increased presence of larger and bolder Bared Owls in habitats where Northern Spotted Owls live. Like all raptors, Spotted Owls also face dangers related to human presence, such as vehicle collisions and environmental contamination. Keeping their habitats clean, safe, and intact is the best way to ensure the continued survival of this vulnerable species.

I've got 2 long articles in going to share tomorrow that take a critical look at the ongoing Spotted vs Barred Owl debate for those that enjoy the long reads.

Their overall message I agree with, but they come from a very opposite direction than my own and have given me much to consider. Check back this weekend to see those. I look forward to your opinions.

From Hawaii Wildlife Center

This is the fiercest burrito we have ever seen!

The Pueo is Hawaii's only native owl. It's a type of Short Eared Owl.

Came across this fun little article about owl words and French slang.

From TheLocal.FR

This French word can help you express positive feelings toward someone or something, and differentiate different types of owls.

Why do I need to know chouette?

Because it’s a very useful word you can use to describe something that you like or you think is nice or cool. But it’s also the name for a big-eyed nocturnal bird.

What does it mean?

Chouette - roughly pronounced shoo-wet - is the word for 'owl' in French, but not all owls.

There is another French word for owl - hibou - which refers to the species that has aigrettes (Plumicorns), which look like ears, on top of their heads, while owls of the chouette category do not.

Within the chouette category, you might hear about la chouette effraie, the barn owl, and la chouette lapone, the great grey owl.

A further fun owl fact is that French also has two different words to describe the noises they make - chuintement refers (among other things) to an owl screech, while hululement is used for the 'twit twoo' cry of a barn owl.

But while discussing owls is always fascinating, you are more likely to hear the word chouette in its more slangy form - it can be used as an adjective to describe something or someone that’s 'great', 'nice' or 'pleasant'.

While the word is informal, it is not offensive, so don't be afraid to use it around children (or your in-laws).

Chouette also has a very common usage as an interjection to express satisfaction about something: Chouette! Mon colis est arrivé! (Great! My package has arrived!)

In this way, it is similar to saying 'ace' or 'sweet' in British English.

There are also expressions that use the word chouette, such as Machin chouette, which you use to refer to someone whose name you can’t remember, in the same way as 'thingummy' or 'thingamabob' in English.

And perhaps the most pejorative usage of chouette but one that may come in handy occasionally is using it to describe a grumpy old lady or hag, une vieille chouette.

If you're looking for alternatives you can say c’est super! or cést genial! to describe a situation or outcome you’re happy about. For people, you could say sympa instead of chouette.

As for its origins, the word first appeared in France around the Middle Ages, as the now lost verb choeter, which meant to be/act trendy or smart.

French Renaissance writer François Rabelais was among the first people to use chouette in writing when describing his wife as une belle petite chouette, showcasing how it is definitely a compliment to be associated with the nocturnal bird of prey.

Use it like this

On a passé une chouette soirée - We had a pleasant evening

Il est un chouette garcon - He’s a nice/friendly kid.

Vous allez faire de la randonnée pendant un mois ? C'est vraiment chouette. - You're going hiking for a month? That's really cool.

From Samnath Mishra

Dusky Eagle Owl

From Audubon Center for Birds of Prey

Decorating our homes for Halloween is a fun tradition, but here's an important reminder to keep our decor bird- d wildlife-friendly. Last week, this Barred Owl found itself stuck in a plastic bat skeleton hung in a tree. Thankfully, the homeowner noticed and contacted animal control to help before it was too late. Our Raptor injury to the neck, and quickly began treatment to stabilize this owl and get it released back to the wild.

There are many kinds of decorations that we know to be harmful: artificial spider webs, for example, can ensnare birds. But this bat skeleton may not be such an obvious danger. If you do choose to hang holiday decorations, consider placement away from areas that birds frequent, and make a point to check your decor daily for any trapped animals.

From Mat Custer

Deep within the forest, As dusk slips into darkness, the nocturnal creatures arise. You hear sounds from the brush around you, and a small animal scurrying through leaves, possibly a mouse. Suddenly the sound of 3 loud hoots and an eerie crack of a branch rings out. You look up only to realize that you are being studied by the king of the night, 2 huge eyes gaze upon you.

I captured this beautiful Barred Owl photo earlier this year in the spring near Omaha, Ne, wanted to share.

From VINS

Recapture Alert! This Northern Saw-whet Owl was encountered by the VINS research team on October 17 at 10 PM. It was quickly discovered that this bird was already banded with band number 1124-47884. Our team recognized the number as one belonging to our friends up at North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier. A quick message confirmed that this bird was in fact one of theirs. The bird was originally banded at North Branch on October 11 at 8:40 PM. The bird weighed 92 grams and was recorded as a Second Year Female. By the time it made its way approximately 45 miles south, she weighed 81 grams.

Recaptures like this illustrate the importance of having multiple stations utilizing the standardized protocol of Project Owlnet. Each recapture provides important migration data and helps to better understand this secretive species.

This bird was handled for the purpose of scientific research under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey and in accordance with all state permitting requirements

From Devin Pitts

Great Horned Owl on a tornado siren this evening in Northeastern South Dakota.

From Sanjay Pandit

From Robert Bateman

I see the spotted owl as a kind of hapless symbol of what we have to do to preserve a huge and very important ecosystem - the North American temperate rain forests. We go around to international congresses, telling others to stop cutting down their rain forests, when we are, in fact, much closer to cutting down the last remaining old-growth rain forests on our own continent.

The spotted owl needs large tracts of unbroken forest to survive. When these tracts are sliced up by logging operations, other predators come in. The spotted owl cannot stand the competition and becomes extinct in that area.

I particularly like the mysterious and nocturnal owl. It is always a surprise to see an owl as it stays within thick cover. also find the shape of its face, with its two eyes pointed forward, very appealing. Along with their secretive habits and appealing demeanor, another thing that appeals to me about owls is that they inhabit our old- growth forests; they are the denizens of the remnants of our sacred spaces.

From Dave Verbyla

A very low-light R7 photo with the RF200-800mm lens. ISO-6400 because this was at dawn. Short-eared Owl. Photo denoised and edited using TOPAZ and ONT Photo Raw. Probably the lowest light photo have ever taken at 1/1000 sec shutter speed.

From Raven Ridge Wildlife Center

A Pennsylvania Game Warden has recently rescued a struggling screech owl found on the ground, entangled in lanternfly tape. We strongly urge everyone to remove this tape from tree trunks. At this critical time of year, such tape threatens our native wildlife that depend on trees as winter approaches.

The damage inflicted on this owl's feathers is severe, necessitating careful grooming and restoration before it can return to the wild. Owls are remarkable silent predators, able to fly just inches from their prey undetected, thanks to their specialized feathers.

Unlike typical birds, which create noise from turbulent airflow over their wings, owls have unique adaptations that minimize sound. The leading edge of an owl's wing is lined with feathers that feature tiny serrations. This design helps break up airflow into smaller, more stable currents, effectively reducing noise.

This modification is most beneficial when the owl's wing is angled steeply, as it often is when closing in on prey. This is just one reason why their delicate feathers need to be in immaculate condition. When damaged, it can take weeks, months, or even a year for an owl to molt the ideal feathers necessary for their survival. Protecting our wildlife begins with responsible practices-let's all do our part by removing lanternfly tape.

Great Horned Owl vs Red Tailed Hawk

From Ali Xiaidi

The mother owl cunningly led the hawk astray from her precious nest, where her tiny owlets had just hatched. Witnessing her swift flight out of the nest, with the hawk in pursuit, was truly mesmerizing. As she landed, the hawk attempted to attack her from behind, only to be captured in a perfectly timed shot. My camera was ready, and I was able to freeze this unexpected moment in time at Savannah's in Florida.

And a reply in the comments had the results of the confrontation:

mom owl went after the hawk after he brushed her. she then returned to the nest and by then the dad owl was there already guarding the nest while mom handled business! Still love them both raptors - epic exp

From Jared McCann

Found this barred owl in a tree watching us drive by.

From Erickson Berja

Sleepless nights in the woods. Eastern Screech Owl yawns as she wakes up behind the sun-burst fall sitting on her enchanted throne.

From Eric D Olick

Closeup of a barred owl with some nice autumn colors.

From Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

Today on Fix 'em Friday: one of the challenges of working with wildlife is that we don't always know the story behind what caused a bird to need rehabilitation. With this Eastern screech owl, we know exactly what happened. Notice the perfect imprint this owl left on the window after striking it. The imprint was caused by feather dust shaking loose from its feathers and onto the glass upon hitting it. Feather dust is created as the feather sheath keratin breaks down, a natural process.

Remember that birds often can't see window glass, instead seeing the reflection of the sky and believing it is a safe place to fly. Preventative deterrence measures include placing stickers, decals, tape or dots on the outside of the window, or marking the window with tempra paint or soap.

This owl is continuing to recover from a concussion and should be released soon!

I'm glad this little one is doing ok now! 😧

From Blake Hess

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) knows how to blend in! Photo taken in Yellowstone National Park

From Anoop Raghavan Manikkoth

Very special freeze with even more special backlight!

Spotted Owlet shot at a coconut farm

From Karen Gagnon-Fitzgerald