cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/28752578

> 360 Degrees Owl > > https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/how-owls-twist-heads-almost-360-degrees

Yes, it's from the Art of Tobihachi, via Parade, via Noeve Grafx.

From Texas Monthly 19 JAN 2024

The world’s smallest owl is a swift, acrobatic hunter whose victims never hear it coming.

> Roy Rodriguez has seen hundreds of bird species in his lifetime, but the lead interpreter at the state-run World Birding Center, a collection of nine parks and preserves in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, still remembers the first time he saw an elf owl. > >It was early spring, about 26 years ago, in Bentsen–Rio Grande Valley State Park, southwest of Mission. “I was with a bunch of birders sitting in a circle at dusk, staring at a small hole way up in a tree,” Rodriguez recalls. Their hope was to catch a glimpse of the smallest owl in the world, a puffy, lightly speckled, gray-and-brown bird barely bigger than a house sparrow. “We were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes,” Rodriguez says, “and I was beginning to think somebody was pulling my leg.” After a long wait, their patience paid off. “This nice little round head with huge yellow eyes and frosty eyebrows” appeared in the hole. The owl peered out and did a quick check of lighting conditions. Nope. Not dark enough yet. It vanished and reappeared a couple more times. “Then,” says Rodriguez, the elf owl hopped up on the edge of the hole and seemed to fall almost straight down, before finally spreading its wings and disappearing into the night. > >Barely tipping the scales at one and a half ounces in weight and six inches in length—but with an impressive thirteen-and-a-half-inch wingspan—Micrathene whitneyi is a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States. The species’ estimated global population of 150,000 to 190,000 spends the fall and winter in central and southern Mexico as far south as Oaxaca, but some of the adults migrate north in the spring and summer to breed in the American Southwest and northern Mexico. It’s an adaptable critter, getting along in varied climates and terrains. “They can occur all the way from the desert into the foothills and as far up as five thousand feet,” says Barry Zimmer, another elf owl admirer and a longtime group leader for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours. The elf owl is also comfortable in semitropical forests and riparian woodlands. In Texas, it is found sporadically around the southern perimeter of the state, including the Rio Grande Valley and Big Bend. > >Like their considerably larger, more fearsome brethren, elf owls are raptors, but instead of wreaking havoc on mammals and birds, they prey on creepy crawlies: beetles, moths, crickets, grasshoppers, scorpions, spiders, and centipedes, plus the occasional small, tasty lizard, snake, or rodent. The animal’s unusual call is often described as a yip or a doglike bark. And again, like its larger cousins, the elf owl has impressive moves. It is a swift, even acrobatic hunter, snatching insects on the wing and diving for them from low perches in the dark of night. The owl’s small size even allows it to nimbly chase down its prey on foot, as well as to hang upside down from foliage and shake it until invertebrates fall out. Another reason it is such an effective hunter—aside from excellent eyesight and hearing—is that its victims never hear it coming. Like most owls, elves have a row of soft, sound-baffling feathers on the leading edge of their wings. Once their prey is secured, they feast, carefully using their beaks to rip off annoying or hazardous parts like stingers and wings. Zimmer, for one, is impressed.“You’ve got this little tiny owl, but he’s out here doing all these big owl things—just on a smaller scale. That’s pretty awesome.” > >But securing its next meal is only part of an elf owl’s day. It might also produce the next generation of elf owls. And to accomplish that, an owl father-to-be (males are the designated house hunters) must first secure a nice, snug nest hole. Depending on the terrain and climate, that can be a tree (preferably with one or more woodpecker holes), a utility pole, a saguaro cactus, or even the fat flower stalk of an agave or yucca. > >Prefab housing—as in nest boxes—has also proved surprisingly acceptable. Texas Parks & Wildlife naturalist Bonnie McKinney discovered that fact when she put out dozens of tiny owl nest boxes for a study at the Black Gap research station, near Marathon, in the mid-nineties. Occupancy reached 34 percent, and an impressive 97 percent of the hatchlings fledged. If you live in elf owl territory and want to try attracting them to a nest box, check Nestwatch for building instructions. An unobtrusive light in the general vicinity of a nest box can also attract moths for the owls to eat. > >Once an elf owl has selected a suitable nest cavity, his next step is finding a mate. And that means some vocal networking. Or, as Rodriguez puts it, “He’s saying, ‘Hey lady, here I am!’ ” He’s also announcing, “This is my territory—keep out!” If a previous mate has happened to come back to the area, the two of them might get back together. Otherwise, he’s got to find a new partner. And that can be a monumental undertaking. > >In the three-year study she conducted just outside her house, McKinney had a front-row seat for an avian version of The Bachelor. “The desert was alive,” she wrote in her report, “with the puppy-like continuous yips of the males calling to the females.” As on the reality TV show, courtship could become extremely fraught. She reported watching one male as he flew around in a frenzy, entering the nest box, and then leaving. “The male’s excited yips increased in volume to a frantic pitch” when a female came close. Once things began to get serious, his calls changed tone, to a soft “churr” sound. She answered with a high-pitched “phew.” Around daylight, the scientist reported, the presumably besotted couple “disappeared into a nearby tree.” > >Once the knot is tied, the female owl moves in and begins to roost in the nest, and the male becomes her chief caregiver, bringing her food many times a night. Over a period of several days, she lays between one and five small round eggs. She might leave the nest to fly around a little at dusk and dawn to stretch her wings, but otherwise both owls stay quiet, because the last thing they want to do is attract attention from potential predators, such as larger raptors. > >No matter how silent they try to be, though, it’s pretty hard to avoid unwanted attention for the 24-day incubation period and the subsequent 28 to 32 days it takes for the young birds to fledge. Rodriguez tells the story of a group of birders who were watching an owl hole when, to their horror, a large snake started up the tree. The parent birds immediately sprang into action, “dive-bombing, grabbing the snake with their talons, pecking it with their beaks.” But they were helpless to stop the reptile. It entered the hole and when it came out, Rodriguez says, “it was fatter than when it went in.” > >Snakes and other predators notwithstanding, elf owls as a species are not under immediate threat, although the American Bird Conservancy describes the population as decreasing, and it is listed as endangered in California. As with many birds and other animals, spreading cities and farmland pose the greatest danger to their wild habitat. > >If the bad news is that nature does not play favorites, the good news is that the young owls that do survive grow up fast, soon looking like small carbon copies of the adults. By the time they are a few months old, they will be ready to make the flight to Mexico for the winter. There they will hang out and grow into sexual maturity. Then, sometime in February or March, when the sun signals that the season is just right, they will spread their wings and head north to find a mate and start the cycle all over again.

From A Place Called Hope

> Chimney Caps. They're a MUST. Cavities in nature, offer places to hide, nest, or seek food. Our open chimney stacks are an invitation for disaster. Many critters can enter but when it's time to get out, the animals often find themselves stuck. This time of year, when fires are burning, our wildlife can become victims to smoke inhalation and if that's not bad enough, they can also succumb to serious burns. Please install chimney caps to prevent this common conflict we impose on our wildlife. > >This Barred Owl was stuck in the stack above the flue for days. Dehydration and starvation are a common result to any creature that is trapped. Luckily homeowners did not add to the dilemma by starting a fire! Instead, they called their local Animal Control Department in Middletown and were directed to APCH. Our team is familiar with these distress calls and Todd responded promptly. This was an older fireplace and the flue was really tight. Not to mention the fact that the owl was able to get up the chimney above arms reach as the stack curved. > >The good news is Todd was prepared and ultimately succeeded in getting the owl extracted safely. The owl has been hydrated and will be ready to eat a meal on Thanksgiving. A free meal! We can't offer food immediately to an animal that is dehydrated or starving, we must first push fluids to get the body functioning properly for digestion. But we anticipate a full recovery. > >The owl is dirty and dehydrated and possibly a bit pissed off! But it could have been so much worse!

With all the discussion about owl defense in the grocery store post, I thought I'd highlight some in a new post so everyone can see.

Owl's main weapons are their feet. They've got big claws, they are super strong, and they're lightning fast. In comparison, the beak is weak, short, and curved so it doesn't give much reach. It's also close to the vital eyes and ears.

This Long Eared Owl is defending its egg from a very determined kestrel. You can see all the defense behaviors (clicking, flaring, and fighting) a number of times in the full video.

Here's the description from the video:

> I invite you to watch two stories -LEOS courtship including food dance, rodent delivery and nest scraping. Each story takes place in Hungary in March 2024 and each ends in a fight of Long-eared owl (Female) with Kestrel (Female). > >In the first case, the nest box belonged to long- eared owls in previous seasons and Kestrels want to take it over this season. They did not succeed. Mrs LEO Won. > >The nest box which is shown in the second part of the video belonged to Kestrels in previous seasons but in 2024, LEOS occupied it during the night and Kestrels during the day. Thus, when Mrs LEO had her first egg and stayed in the nest box during the day, a problem arose as Kestrels wanted to have this nest box for themselves and fought for it. In this case, Kestrels won and Mrs LEO left her egg in the nest box. Kestrels do not eat the egg but guard the nest box. > >Another nest box has been installed next to it, so that both Kestrels and LEOS Could have their own place but Kestrels guard both nest boxes now and LEOS do not come to any of them. Enjoy!

I've put the best kick attack in the title pic here for you if you don't want to watch the whole thing. The video is great though, the sound adds a lot to the experience and there is so much great bird behavior. The kestrel is really trash talking the LEO before many of the fights.

There's nothing I'd consider especially graphic, but it's bird fighting, and the egg does not make it in part 2, so there is that.

From Bryce Gaudian

> We are currently experiencing our first snowfall of the season. Reminded me of this Long-eared Owl hunting in fresh fallen snow in January of this year; and very fitting with a Snowy Owl hunting during a snow squall in March of last year. Minnesota.

No breaks because of weather for the owls! Rain, shine, sleet, or snow, a bird's gotta eat!

From Rodney Ervin

> Somewhere out there is a little owl that is hiding in plain sight. Eastern Screech Owls are probably one of my most favorite Owls just because of their camouflage. I looked right at this owl for a couple of minutes before actually seeing it lol. Taken in Northern Indiana.

From Michael Zambardino

> While attempting to stay far from this owl, a peregrine falcon chased it right up to me, I became a statue till it chose to fly off. > > In that time 3 cars drove right between me and the owl, and it never even flinched.

From Owl Rescue Centre

> This sneaky little lady has been living inside a Shoprite store in Thokoza for the last few weeks. She was a difficult customer, had all her hiding spots well mapped out, just in case some owl rescuers came knocking. That's Jacob in the photo, he's their security gent who offered a great deal of help in rescuing her. We don't often tag company rescues anymore, but we know Shoprite South Africa loves owls

From Chetan Kher

> It may sound really absurd but I saw a life bird today and that is one of the most common New England Owl, the Barred Owl.

From Charon Comeau

> This face can make anyone smile! > Nikon Z8 -600mm with a teleconverter and Heavily cropped! > Taken from a friends second floor deck a few houses away! (Thanks Eric)

From Park River National Wildlife Refuge

> Great photos should never come at the expense of the health and well-being of wildlife. Snowy and barred owls that are active on the refuge this time of year are vulnerable. They need to be able to rest and fuel for the winter season when food is scarcer and temperatures are low. We have received increasing reports of unethical wildlife watching behavior, including intentionally flushing birds, chasing birds from site to site, gathering in large and lingering crowds that never give the bird a break, and getting too close to the owls. > >We are grateful for those who have exhibited ethical wildlife watching behavior, and who have done their part to encourage others to do the same. We urge everyone to remember that refuges are for wildlife. In an area of increasing development, the refuge provides critical habitat for owls and other species with few other places to go. Please respect their space. > >It is a common misconception that if a bird doesn't flush, it is not bothered. Large and lingering crowds, as well as visitors coming too close, leads to stress, and increased heart rates that can result in the bird being too exhausted to flee. You can help ensure owl populations remain healthy by following the guidance below and putting the well- being of wildlife first. > >Read about how you can be a good ambassador for wildlife here.

From Deb Youngblut

> I saw five Short-eared Owls in Bremer county lowa tonight and am running on an absolute high! I was lucky to see them around 4:00 pm before it got too dark. I got to watch them play, bark and chase each other. I even had a close encounter a couple of times with the owls coming just within a couple of feet from me. SEO's are so fun to watch and photograph. One of my favorites! 11/17/24

From Sweetbriar Nature Center

> Meet our newest little screech owl patient, who's not quite Newton (edit: their other screech owl), but definitely has a story to tell! > >This sweet eastern screech owl was recently rescued after being hit by a car and suffering a broken leg. Right now, he's one of three screech owls recovering in our hosptal, and while he's a bit wobbly, he's a fighter! > >Owls are incredible hunters, using their feet to grip and tear apart their meals. But with an injured leg, it's been tough for him to eat. So, we've come up with a little trick: we gently place a mouse head first into his beak, and he takes it from there! > >It's amazing to see him adapt and work through his challenges. Every day, he's one step closer to recovery and ready to soar again! > >Did you know that screech owls usually catch their prey with their feet. The 4 toes on each foot have needle- sharp talons that could easily pierce through a fingernail. The talons also serve as defensive weapons. A cornered screech owl sometimes leans on its back, directing the talons at its attacker. > >Of the 4 toes, two are directed forward, one to the side to widen the foot's grasp, and one backwards. The toe to the side can be shifted forward or backwards to facilitate perching. The skin on the underside of the toes is rough, aiding the screech owl in picking up slippery prey such as earthworms. > >Follow along for more updates on our little warrior and the rest of our feathered friends!

From Ahjet Lin

The Burrowing Owl reaches speeds of up to 145 mph / 235 kmh and plows headfirst like this into the hillside to carve out its burrow. After that, it really needs a place to rest its head!

Gotcha! They just use old holes from badgers and such! 🤣

They are quite aerodynamic though, aren't they?

I like the landing gear coming out here in these other photos.

From Wild Action

> Just a quick update. 'Gandalf the tawny frogmouth (left) is now 40 days of age... And 'Bandit the boobook owl is now 31 days of age. It always amazes me on how quickly they have grown..HUGE changes everyday. Not quite full grown, still just big kids. ❤️

Original Post when they were teeny tiny!

From Lisa Lavargna

> Can you relate??? Just waking up, this little one's expression reminds me of those who had just a bit too much fun the night before!!

From Patricia Thomas

> Short-Eared owls in flight exhibiting a courtship behavior of clapping their wings. I think she was charmed.

From Matt Sorum

> Our local celebrity Owl in Fargo, ND.