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When one tugs at a single thing in nature, you find it attached to the rest of the world. - John Muir, Conservationist
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, you find it attached to the rest of the world.
- John Muir, Conservationist
Let's see what you know about our feathered friends!
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Although owls have very good eyesight, they rely on their sense of hearing to find their prey. Their ears are quite large, under their feathers and right behind their eyes. One is set higher than the other and their fringed wing feathers create a silent flight in order for them to hear their fast moving prey.
Great Grey Owls are found in western Alberta and are known as the ghosts of the forest. They can stand more than 80 cm (31 in) high and have a 150 cm (59 in) wingspan. Although huge looking, they have quite small feet and are made of mostly feathers.
With dense feathers keeping them warm in colder climates, a big female Snowy Owl can weigh up to 2700 g (5.5 lb). Even then, with hollow bones and feathers, even the biggest birds don’t weigh very much.
Although diets vary between species of owls, they are all carnivores, meaning they eat only meat. They can eat rodents, rabbits, skunks, porcupines, insects, and even other birds, but they do not eat seeds or plants of any kind.
Owls can do more than hoot and different species make different noises. When an owl is angry it can hiss like a cat. During feeding time they can cluck like a chicken. The Burrowing Owl warns with the rattle of a snake. No owl has been known, however, to oink like a pig.
Owls eyes are amazing! They have to turn their heads around backward to see better as the eyes are too big to move in the sockets. Their second set of eyelids are transparent so they have protection when flying. The dark isn’t as hard to navigate with their large eyes pulling in whatever light is shining. They do close their eyes just like us when sleeping, although they stay standing and don’t fall off their perch!
Although a legitimate species of owl, the Elf Owl doesn’t live in Alberta, or even Canada. They are found in the southwest United States and into Mexico. They are the smallest species of owl in the world, weighing in at just 41 g (1.5 oz).
Although owls are generally solitary, if seen in a group, they are known as a “parliament”.
