Applegater Summer 2013 13
BIRDMAN
Owl-watching is a hoot
by ted a. glover
We hardly ever see owls unless we go
out at night with the proper equipment
and actually seek them out. Owls, for the
most part, are mainly nocturnal, roosting
in the dense forests during the daylight
hours. But when the eagles and hawks that
patrol the skies during the day wander off
to their roosts at evening time, the owls
emerge for their turn at hunting.
Owls, who seem to have no neck at
all, have the same strong talons and the
same large hooked beaks as their daytime
hunting companions, but the owl’s eyes are
very large and are able to gather light better
than our human eyes can. Their hearing is
also very sharp. So with extra sharp hearing
and extremely sensitive eyesight they hunt
small birds, mice and other small rodents,
bats, reptiles and even insects.
Over 200 species of owls have been
The Northern Spotted Owl, a medium-sized
dark brown owl, is listed as a threatened
species under the Endangered Species Act.
Photo: Peter J. Thiemann, Flickr photo stream.
identified worldwide and new ones
are still being discovered. Some of the
wonderful names for these owls include
Laughing Owl, Ochre-bellied Hawk Owl,
Barking Owl, White-chinned Owl, and
Vermiculated Fishing Owl. In the United
States, according to The Sibley Field Guide
to Birds, there are 19 species of owls,
including such eloquently named ones as
Flammulated Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-
Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl.
According to the Oregon Bird
Records Committee and their “Official
Checklist of Oregon Birds,” there are
15 species of owls that live here or visit
Oregon. Some visit in the winter months,
such as the Snowy Owl (a far northern owl)
and others visit in the summer months,
such as the Burrowing Owl (a species of
the agricultural areas of the southwestern
Long-eared Owlets have a characteristic
call, likened to a rusty hinge. Their ear-tufts
make them appear larger to other owls.
Photo: Peter J. Thiemann, Flickr photo stream.
US and Mexico).
Here in the Applegate Valley and in
the surrounding foothills and mountains,
you may be able to see up to 11 types of
owls:
• Barn Owl
• Barred Owl
• Flammulated Owl
• Great Gray Owl
• Great Horned Owl
• Long-eared Owl
• Northern Pygmy-Owl
• Northern Saw-whet Owl
• Northern Spotted Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Western Screech-Owl
All of these are permanent
residents except the Flammulated, a rare
summer visitor, and the Short-eared, a
winter transient.
Among the commonly seen owls in
our area is the Barn Owl, typically flying
low over marshes and meadows early in
the morning or late in the afternoon as it
hunts. It is known
to nest in barns and
other old structures,
even old burrows,
holes in cliff sides,
and human-made
nest boxes.
Ted A. Glover
The Great
Horned Owl is
another commonly seen owl, mainly
because of its large size. It stands about 22
inches, with very large and wide-spaced ear
tuffs, giving a horned-like look. It roosts
during the day in trees or on cliff ledges.
The Great Horned Owl is often pestered
by swarms of crows and the crow’s loud
cawing can be a clue to the presence of
the owl.
Owl-watching is mainly a nighttime
task, but being alert and knowledgeable
about their habits can help us find them
here in our beautiful Applegate Valley area.
Ted A. Glover • 541-846-0681
tedglover9@gmail.com
The Snowy Owl is one of the largest owls in
North America, reaching 28 inches long and
weighing up to 6.6 pounds.
Photo: Peter J. Thiemann, Flickr photo stream.
The Burrowing Owl is a tiny but long-legged
owl with prominent white eyebrows and a
white chin patch it displays when agitated.
Photo: Peter J. Thiemann, Flickr photo stream.
