The Silent Sentinel of Winter: The Great Horned Owl

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When night falls and the world quiets, the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) emerges as the apex predator of the nocturnal world. Known as the “Tiger of the Sky,” this majestic bird commands the night with silent flight and piercing yellow eyes. Found throughout North America, from forests to urban parks, it is a highly adaptable raptor that embodies resilience and strength.

Great Horned Owls are opportunistic hunters, preying on everything from small rodents to skunks and even other birds. Their powerful talons exert up to 300 pounds of pressure per square inch, enabling them to dispatch surprisingly large prey. Specialized wing feathers make their flight nearly silent, ensuring their prey has no warning. The Great Horned Owl’s adaptations are extraordinary. Their immobile eyes, which account for a third of their skull’s weight, offer excellent night vision. They compensate for fixed eyes with the ability to rotate their heads 270 degrees. Asymmetrical ear placement allows pinpoint hearing, even under snow or dense vegetation.

One of their most fascinating traits is their early breeding season. While other birds wait for spring, these owls begin courtship in late fall, hooting to establish pair bonds. By February or March (depending on the year), they’re nesting, reusing nests built by hawks, crows, or squirrels as they do not make nests of their own. However, natural events like the devastating windstorm that swept through Ontario in 2018 have damaged many nesting sites. Without suitable habitats, owls face significant challenges and can miss a whole breeding season. In some circumstances, creating artificial nests using a professional arborist with materials like laundry hampers filled with natural debris provide a secure space for these incredible birds, see photo included. Once the female lays her eggs, she incubates them for about 30-37 days while the male provides food. By March, owlets hatch, and by late spring, they are ready to leave the nest just as prey becomes abundant.

This owl’s haunting “hoo-hoo-hoo” calls echo through the winter landscape, reminding us of nature’s resilience. By protecting habitats, avoiding rodenticides, and supporting artificial nest projects, we can help ensure their survival. The Great Horned Owl, a silent sentinel of winter, is a symbol of adaptation and strength in the wild.

Learn more at: birdfriendlypeterborough.ca

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