Midnight Snack

             As the sun goes down and the rest of the world goes to sleep, an owls’ senses awaken. The owls’ wings cut through the stillness of the night as silent as a stealth airplane. Precise and careful the owl searches for a satisfying dinner.

            When an owl flies, his wings flap almost silently. The feathers on the wing are jagged, soft tipped and flexible; almost finger like. These features help muffle the sound. The bones of an owl are hollow like which makes them very light. This helps the bird fly fast and quiet. The soft wings of an owl give it the ability to bring its’ wings in close to its’ body. This characteristic will help the bird change its’ shape and size in an instant. The owl may look like the shape of a tree stump!  Using this unique skill, an owl can catch prey by surprise.

            Owls are raptors; this means they hunt, kill and eat other animals. Raptors have strong talons and sharp hooked beaks. The claws of an owl are called talons. They have a fourth toe facing backwards, it looks like a thumb. This thumb like claw makes it easier to catch prey. They use these features to tear the flesh of its’ prey. Different species of owls eat different prey. For example, a larger owl may eat squirrel, skunk, and rabbit. Smaller owls eat birds, insects, and small snakes. The claws of an owl are called talons. They have a fourth toe facing backwards, it looks like a thumb. This thumb like claw makes it easier to catch prey.

            Owls find food in many interesting places. An owl can hear a mouse that is hiding under 18 inches of snow! Barn owls will find their food in the fields or hills. Farmers purposely build barns with holes in them for the owl to fly into. Owls help farmers control the mice and other pests on his farm. Each species of owls find their food in their territory, the place where they live. From woodlands to grasslands, and from towers to church steeples, each species of owls find their prey. They will find their food on the ground, in the trees and even in midair!

            Most owls are nocturnal; they sleep during the day and hunt for food during the night. They have special senses to help them hunt. For instance, an owl has exceptional eyesight. Owls have very large eyes. At night the pupils grow large so that light can enter giving them better vision. The eyes of an owl do not move from side to side however, the owls’ neck is very flexible. It can turn 260 degrees. That is almost completely around! An owl may have exceptional eyesight, but they depend on their excellent hearing skills also. An owl can hear a mouse over 60 feet away! Studies have been performed on owls to prove that their hearing is so accurate that an owl can hear a mouse on a leaf littered floor with 100% accuracy.

            A fun way to learn more about owls is to observe their behavior. A great way to watch owl behavior is to spend time at your local zoo or a local bird aviary. Contact your regional fish and game office to learn where to find owls in your area. Groups such as Audubon sometimes plan night time field trips to go owl watching. Serious owl watchers will buy infrared equipment to watch owls at night (however, not all owls are nocturnal, some species like the burrowing owl are awake during the day). So, go out, have fun, take your family and enjoy a nice day of owl watching!