Owl Be Seeing You

Over the past three years I have had a close relationship with a pair of Great Horned Owls that live in the park across from our house and can be seen and heard often in our yard. I have affectionately named them Owlice and Owlen. While they are a mating pair, I have not to date located a nest, but it is most likely hidden somewhere deep inside this huge old oak.

This is “home tree” where they can most often be found and it is visible from my front door. Here, Owlice is on the top right branch and Owlen in on the lowest left branch. Can you spot them? They match the colors of this oak so well they are often hard to spot. Owlice is a bit larger in size.

When I have trouble spotting them, I study the ground around the area of home tree. Owls regularly prune, and I can see if there is an area rich with feathers. I also find signs of poop and pellets. Owls eat a mouse whole. Their saliva is so acidic that it dissolves the mouse, then their gut compresses the leftover bones and fur into these pellets - a prize for high school biology teachers to allow students to break them open, dissect and examine the bones.

I truly love these two and have spent so much time watching for them and photographing them that I believe they recognize me and my dog Jersey. I am a problem sleeper and often get out of bed to let my husband sleep and move to a room toward the front of the house. In the wee hours of the morning I KNOW they are in a tree right outside our front door because I hear them hooting. It is one of my favorite things and actually helps lull me back to sleep.

The following shots are a collection of the varied owl expressions that I have captured. They range from comical to forboding and they do both EXTREMELY well. Of course, since I am photographing in the daylight, most often they are sleeping. But these shots are the magical moments when they wake up to check me out. I get my best catches in the evening hours, close to sundown. They are starting to stir and get ready for a night of hunting and feasting. I love the play of the impending sunset in these shots.

Love this “one open eye, one shut eye” look that I often get.

Thanks to a friend who spotted that Owlen is using his claw here to make a gang - looking sign. It matches well with his expression. He is the BADDEST owl in the hood.

LOVE their eyes and the amazing way they use them to express themselves.

This was a super fun catch. Owls do something called guhler breathing when it is very hot, where they open their mouths wide and take fast deep breaths. This is either that or a very deep yawn.

One of my favorite shots because of the framing. It sets a tone for the absolute joy and mystery that these birds of prey elicit in my heart. What a priviledge it is to be their neighbor and friend. You can purchase this shot as a canvas print or a card. I think it makes a perfect H’owloween card, by the way! Trick or treat!