From Rakesh Baro

Ontario Evenings!

Photographing short-eared owls in Southern Ontario is an enchanting experience, particularly in the golden glow of the evening sun.

These graceful hunters, with their unique flight patterns, are a joy to observe as they glide low over the fields in search of prey.

I especially love how the backlighting from the setting sun accentuates their soft plumage, casting a warm, ethereal light that makes every shot feel truly rewarding.

Patience is essential, as these owls are most active at dusk, but the opportunity to capture their beauty in such serene lighting is always worth the effort.

Nikon Z9, Nikkor 500mm f4+1.4TC

We're at the end of the first round, and basically halfway through the tournament. Today we meet the last of our competitors. The choices will only get harder from here in out, so choose carefully! For the last entrants, we have a pair of mostly monochromatic owls-one you know, and one you likely don't. You guys have stuck with most of the classics this year, Milky over the Little Owl being the only real outlier. Do you have another surprise in store for me today?

First up, the second most popular owl of last year, we all know it-the Snowy! This is one of the biggest and fluffiest owls; a necessity as it spends most of its time above the Arctic Circle. Snowies are a favorite of owl-ologists. As migratory owls, tossing a tracker on them gets us valuable data from places that aren't too hospitable or traversable for us. As you might infer from the rise of Snowy posts recently, Snowies will venture further south during the winter in search of food and some additional comfort.

The Black and White is a medium owl of Latin America and northernmost South America. Found in the wetlands and rain forest, this owl hunts mostly in the canopy for beetles and cicadas, though it will also take a bat, rodent, bird, or amphibian should the opportunity present itself. Like the Buffy Fish Owl, the B&W only lays a single egg at a time. Egg clutch sizes for bird species often shrink as they get closer to the equator. The Snowy, on the other hand, can last over 10 at the other extreme.

#superbowl #owloftheyear2024

I have a feeling this should be a good one! We've got some top tier owls, but only one can advance. This is likely to be another tough decision.

The petite Saw Whet is found from Canada to Mexico. Though only about 8 inches / 20 cm, and 2.8 oz / 80 g, this owl is no less vicious than its larger relatives, perhaps even more so, as it is also subject to predation itself. Like many owls, its name comes from its primary vocalization, a toot that is said to have the sound of a hand saw being sharpened on a whetstone. Saw Whet is not a bug eater like its size may imply: it eats almost entirely mammals from moles up to squirrels and bats, and will sometimes take a bird if need be, or some crabs and other seafood along the coast.

The competition is the owl that's been so successful at dealing with environmental destruction with its great adaptability and sheer determination that its become somewhat of an outlaw. The Barred Owl is being treated as an invasive species, but I say it's just making the best of the bad situation many owls like the Saw Whet are suffering from: deforestation. While other owls can't find food, shelter, or territory, Barred Owl laughs. It eats anything, lives anywhere, and is a tough son of a gun who isn't even afraid to fight humans during nesting season. Once only in the Eastern US , it has crushed southern Canada and is coming down the West Coast. While it can be a tough customer, it can also look very gentle and cuddly when it wants to, and it wears a somber expression, possibly from just being tired of being misunderstood.

So do you pick the pocket sized puff ball with surprised eyes and a bit of a moody side, or the bold, loud, and proud Barred Owl who has a tough exterior hiding a heart of gold? I know some of you have been having some very good Barred Owl sightings lately and getting lots of upvotes yourselves, so this will make it tough for baby if you. Mage your choice and vote now!

#superbowl #owloftheyear2024

From Shaun Antle

Small enough to fit in your hand but fierce when it's time to hunt, the Saw-whet Owl is one of nature's little marvels. Found across North America, these tiny owls are silent predators, gliding through the forest at night to snag mice and other small prey with incredible precision.

Their name comes from their call, which sounds like a saw being sharpened-one of those magical sounds you might hear if you're lucky enough to spend a quiet evening in the woods. With their big, curious eyes and feathers that blend perfectly with the trees, they're perfectly designed for forest life. But here's the thing-they need those forests to survive, and that's where the trouble starts. Logging and development are shrinking the places these little owls call home.

Protecting those forests isn't just about the owls-it's about preserving the balance of nature they're a part of. Taking care of wild spaces means these amazing creatures can keep doing what they do best, and we get to keep experiencing the magic they bring to the world.

From Glenn Sayers

When you just can't bear to watch what's happening right now (Great Horned Owl San Jose del Cabo)

There are 26 types of Pygmy Owl,and last year we went with the Northern. This year, let's try the Ferruginous (means rust colored) Pygmy Owl! This is the most widely dispersed of the Pygmies, from the edges of the US Southwest to the north of Argentina. Like the Northern, they have false eyes in the backs of their head. Despite being very small, they have disproportionately large feet to help tackle things up to twice their size including lizards and birds. They come in red and grey morphs.

The Crested Owl is a very distinct owl of Central and upper South America. It is a medium sized owl,known for its long white plumicorns. They also have facial stripes that join the plumes to make them look even longer than they already are. They favor old growth tropical and subtropical forests and are usually found near water. This owl is mainly an insect eater. It comes is a light and dark morph.

These two owls today both fell to the Screech Owl last year, but Screech is far off on the other side of the bracket now. Can one of these two make it to the finals to face it? You tell me!

#superbowl #owloftheyear2024

Buffy Fish Owl was a big hit last year. A big, loveable, horned owl with a fabulous anthropomorphized personality is a killer combination that got it to last year's Final 4. Buffy comes from tropical forests and wetlands in southeast Asia. They eat some typical owl food, but Wade into the water to snag fish, crabs, and frogs. Buffy has a number of differences from other owls: different feathers, different beak, doesn't make pellets, nests in a fern, and only ever lays one egg a year.

The Mottled Wood Owl is from the deciduous forests of India and Nepal. Not much data seems to be out there on this owl. We'll have to let this owl's unique looks speak for themselves.

Both owls are quite unique. Do you prefer the comedic looks and unusual anatomy of the Buffy, or are the wild looks of the enigmatic Mottled Wood Owl more your style? Vote below!

#superbowl #owloftheyear2024

From Cynthia Rand

This recent discovery of mine was well camouflaged, but its white patch caught my eye as I scanned tree holes in the area!

From Antonius Lo

Northern Saw Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus ) Southern Ontario, Canada. 2024 Sony ILCE-1 n SEL 200-600 @ f/7.1 SS 1/320 8000. DXO raw processed.

The Barn Owl may be a pinnacle of owl evolution. They may be the peak predator of rodents by it's mass vs the amount of rodents it eats. They have a very high metabolism that must be filled by meat. What do they do with all that energy? Fly! If it's possible for an owl to exist anywhere, there will be some variety of Barn Owl there. These winged wonders can migrate up to 1000 km / 600 miles, taking them to near every land mass. Experiments with Barn Owls in the 70s finally lead to the understanding of most owls ability to use sound to find prey in total darkness with extreme accuracy.

The Boreal Owl (Tengmalm's Owl in Europe) is rarely seen by humans, staying far north in inaccessible taiga of North America and Eurasia. Its closest relatives are the diminutive Saw Whet and the Buff Fronted Owl. They have at least 8 types of vocalizations, making them hard to track. Despite being small, this owl eats more birds and mammals than many small owls do. They frequently look to have a surprised expression, making them very fun to see.

Does the sleek and svelte Barn Owl or the bashful Boreal get today's upvote?

#superbowl #owloftheyear2024

The Greater Sooty Owl is a resident of the wet tropical forest of Australia and New Guinea. There is also a Lesser Sooty sometimes grouped in, but it has a very limited range in North Queensland. They are the most massive of the Barn Owl family, though the Tasmanian Masked Owls are longer overall. This dark owl dotted with white speckles can let out a piercing 2 second shriek. Their primary diet are the mammals sharing the trees with them, gliders, possums, bandicoots, and bats.

For many of us, the Great Horned Owl will need no introduction. This is one of the largest owls of the Americas, and has a wider ranger than any owl but the Barn Owls. Its iconic hoot strikes fear into almost every animals in the forest - not even porcupines nor skunks or turkeys are safe from talons with more crushing power than an eagle, and even most dogs. They also have no problem going head to head with Bald Eagles over territory in epic back and forth battles. They may also be the longest lived owl, living up to 30 years in the wild and 50 in captivity.

Can you decide between these two great "Great" owls? Are you sucked down to the darkness with the goth Sooty, or will GHO crush its competition? Upvote your favorite now!

#superbowl #owloftheyear2024

From Mike Lentz

The look you get from a female Northern Saw Whet Owl when she see's your taking her picture. : )

My posse has been seeing these charming little owls and expect for this winter to be pretty epic with so many different species.

Their plumage is mottled and provides excellent camouflage! They primarily are found in more dense forests, particularly in Conifers and mixed woodlands. They prefer areas with a thick understory for cover.