I started my morning a little later than usual today. I’m usually up by 5 AM but I slept in a bit this morning. I was watching a video a friend sent to me. I started watching it. The speaker had a very soothing voice. I’m afraid I may have dozed off for segments of the presentation. Actually major segments. The video was THREE HOURS long! Had I known when I hit the play button. Ah well. The video was very informative and I stayed awake for the last hour which included a summary of the discussion. That said, I was up at 6 and was greeted with the ‘hooting’ of a pair of Great Horned Owls! They were nearby, judging from how loud they were. Coffee and the melodic hooting of owls. Doesn’t get much better than that.
What makes an owl hoot?
I wondered why they were hooting. What were they communicating? ‘I’m over here.’ ‘Let’s find something to eat!’ Hard to say. But it was that mellow, rhythmic pattern of exchange – a male and a female, judging from their vocalizations. It is interesting to note that even though the female Great Horned Owl is the larger of the pair, the male has a larger voice box and a deeper tone.
Surreal moment
Owls fascinate me. For all the times I have had them watching me from the pines and fly off as I get too close – and only then see them as they depart. I’ve sat in deep woods on numerous occasions. Once I heard the air move ever so slightly above. I looked up slowly and not 12 feet above me there was an owl perched in the tree – having just landed there ever so silently. It was a special moment for me. My connection with Nature grew deeper by the association. I felt my senses open, my vision more vivid and my hearing so precise. I have tinnitus but in that moment, my ears stopped ringing. It was surreal.
Nature is an incredible experience. As I was writing this, recollections of that time came flooding back into my memory. The majestic owl.
The owl that sat above me stayed for only a brief time. It was surveying the woods for food. Seeing none from its vantage point, it moved on. Again, only the gently sifting of the air currents and it was gone. It was a powerful experience.
The nesting pair of great horned owls
I had a pair of Great Horned Owls nest on the property for years. They were hard on the rabbit population! I feel bad for rabbits. They are truly prolific but they are also at the bottom of the food chain. Being cute grants no pardon in nature.
Lunch
I have a photo of a Great Horned Owl with an owlet. The are feeding on a Muskrat. The adult is teaching the owlet the ins and outs of being Great Horned Owl.
Owl vs. Eagle
Another interesting experience with owls. I had a pair of Bald Eagles build a nest on the edge of the property. I took numerous photos of the process and actually published a book – a pictorial ‘coffee table’ book regarding the nest building. The book is titled, “Eagles of Woodland Heights: a narrative by Jon Drews,” and is available at the Otter Tail County Historical Society, (othcs.org) and Victor Lundeens (VictorLundeens.com), both located in Fergus Falls. Anyway, the Eagles were only on site for one year. The second year there was but one Eagle. Sadly, something happened to the mate.
What was interesting about this event was the pair of Great Horned Owls took over the nest built by the Eagles. The lone Eagle swooped the nest repeatedly and the pair of fierce Owls defended that nest with all their ability. Flaring their wings on each swoop of the Eagle. The Eagle finally gave up and flew off. The Owls prevailed. It was an amazing sight – Titans of the sky engaged in battle – and me without my camera.
Untamed, wild nature
I have had other experiences with owls and each one has taught me to extend all due respect their way. They are powerful – almost mystical creatures. In fact, Native Americans considered the Great Horned Owl to be a powerful creature because it had horns (the tufts of feathers on its head) which symbolized spiritual power. Many tribes associated the owl with death, the underworld and bad luck as the owl was a nocturnal bird that dwelt in darkness. I had written a blog post on the untamed, wild nature of Coyotes you can read here. I would say Owls possess a similarly untamed, wild nature. Titans of the land, Titans of the skies. You can feel it at the top of your spine when you look into their eyes.
Closing
Questions about my Owl Art? Contact me. The Great Horned Owls have their own Gallery at RedBarnProject.com.
Peace.
