Owls of Harmony Hill
On February 5th, Sunshine and Lisa sent me a photo (see first photo) of some feathers they found on the ground, asking me to talk about where they might have come from and how they might have ended up on the ground. After taking a look, I was able to both see WHO they once belonged to and (most likely) HOW they found their way onto the forest floor.
The feathers are flight feathers that belonged to a Barred Owl (Strix varia) that probably found itself on the dinner menu for Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). First, how do we know these feathers belong to a Barred Owl? Let’s take a look at the feathers. Immediately, we see that they are barred. (Sometimes, we naturalists apply common names that make sense!) The dark gray/brown bars are interrupted by white bars, giving the bird its common name.
As for the scientific name, (Strix varia)... Strix is pulled directly from the Strix creature of Greek mythology, which relates to Polyphonte, who was turned into an owl by Hermes, as punishment for her feral twins engaging in cannibalism. The Strix would cry through the night, unable to eat. It is also one of the roots of the superstition of owls being a foreboding and unlucky omen. Most cultures revered owls and even saw them as good luck; but, this was part of the turning of the tide, making owls to be bringers of ill-fortune.
The species name, varia, means exactly what you think it does: diverse and various. This comes from the barred plumage of the owl.
Barred Owls are residents of low, wet areas. Beaver Creek, with its bottomland hardwoods and riparian habitats, makes a perfect place for them to live and breed. They have a varied diet, packed full of species found in and around rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, creeks and swamps. I’ve seen them hunting for snakes, lizards, crayfish, smaller birds, rodents, squirrels and even earthworms. (Seriously… I came upon a Barred Owl that had discovered quite the gathering of earthworms, gobbling them up as quickly as it could scratch them out of the dark soil.)
Now, how do I know this unfortunate bird fell victim to a Great Horned Owl? Well, not many things take on Barred Owls. But, Great Horned Owls definitely can and will! In fact, Great Horned Owls will take on just about anything. It isn’t uncommon for Great Horned Owls to actively hunt skunks, racoons, porcupines and young coyotes. Their strength (they posses 7x the gripping strength of an adult human) and their tenacity have earned them the nickname “Flying Tiger”.
There is a Latin variant, Bubo, which is likely an onomatopoeia of the low hooting of owls, that references large owls. The species name of virginianus gives us the name of the colony where Great Horned Owls were first described.
Great Horned Owls begin pair bonding in South Carolina in November and begin nesting in December. Incubation of the eggs goes through January and hatching is usually late January and early February. During incubation and, especially after hatching, hunting activity increases. The owlets will develop and grow until fledging in early May. During that time, the adults are taking anything they can to nourish and quiet the begging of the owlets. And, as you have already guessed, means Barred Owls are on the menu!
I’ve also included links to information on Barred Owls, with photos and videos for you to see them and hear their calls. They have a diagnostic “Who Cooks for You? Who Cooks for You All?” call, as well as a call that sounds like monkeys in a jungle. You will also find a couple of photos I’ve taken of Great Horned Owls, one perched on a limb and one of a female at a nest, with three owlets. I’ve also attached a short video I took a couple years ago with the usual “Hoot, Hoot” of the Great Horned Owl and the less common barking call that is heard during pair bonding.
Four Species of Owls in the Lower Piedmont of the Carolinas
Last night, we delved into the origins of superstitions surrounding owls and looked at the fantastic way they’re built to take advantage of the nighttime. Tonight, let’s look at the individual species that are found throughout the lower piedmont and marvel at their natural excellence.
The largest of our resident owls is the Great Horned Owl. Slightly larger than the Red-tailed Hawk, this owl is at the top of the food chain when it comes to birds around here. Nicknamed “Flying Tigers”, Great Horned Owls will kill and eat other birds of prey, as well as raccoons, skunks, opossums, and even cats. There are even documented cases of them killing porcupines and even standing their ground against eagles. In short, they are tougher than I am. They also happen to be a lot stronger, too. Great Horned Owls have quite the grip on them; about seven times stronger than even the strongest person you know. Many people associate Great Horned Owls with impending death and their presence as a bad omen. Several Native American tribes; however, viewed them as quite the opposite, even believing only the most virtuous individuals became Great Horned Owls when they died. I am always impressed when I see them and can tell you that the Great Horned Owl is the only bird ever to make me nervous when I banded it.
Most birds breed in the spring. That’s what we all learned and what we’ve all observed in our yards. Not the Great-Horned Owl. Along with other large birds, like eagles, they must begin in the coldness of winter. Great-Horned Owls may begin mating rituals as early as November and start nesting as early as December. Why so early? It takes a long time to raise really large chicks, like those Great-Horned Owls do.
Next are another well-known owl. Barred Owls are our water loving owls. They live in swamps and near rivers and streams. They are the most common owl to be seen in the daytime and are frequently seen flying around in broad daylight, particularly during breeding season when they must find plenty of food for hungry owlets. Barred Owls hunt for everything from snakes and rodents to other birds and even fish. They are often associated with success in hunting. This dates back to Native American beliefs that Barred Owls granted hunters the ability to see and hear prey with the same prowess as the owl. Barred Owls, among other owls, are also thought to portend bad weather. One popular belief in the south is that extremely vocal and active Barred Owls warn of storms or very cold weather. Many animals, not just owls, become more active prior to changes in weather. Currently, there is a great deal of research being done to study how animals sense these changes; with most finding animals are sensitive to changes in barometric pressure.
Camden is known for its horses and no horse property is complete without a barn. The Barn Owl is known for, and indeed was named for, its inclination for living in barns. This owl is one of the coolest birds there is. While all owls are phenomenal, there is something extra special about a Barn Owl. They are found on every continent except Antarctica and have sight and hearing that is superb, even by owl standards. Barn Owls can successfully hunt in total darkness and can identify prey under several inches of grass, hay, and even snow. They do this by having far more of the light sensing rods in their eyes than humans, as well a facial disc of feathers that funnels sound to ears that are offset on the sides of their heads, giving them unmatched triangulation abilities in pitch black situations. They even memorize individual sounds that various species of prey make and recognize each of these sounds. Barn Owls can tell by just the sound of a rodent digging whether it's a mouse or a shrew.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/sounds
These owls are the likely source for many beliefs in ghosts and stories of hauntings. They are mostly white in color, fly silently, come out at night, and did I mention they scream? Imagine going outside after dark and seeing a flash of white sail by without making a noise, only to disappear in the darkness, followed by a blood-chilling scream. If you didn’t know any better, you would think you had seen a ghost, too! Unfortunately, their populations are dropping and they are no longer found in many places they were once common. The use of pesticides and changes in land management has led to a substantial decline in the number of Barn Owls. These birds are better at controlling rodent populations than any cat and are an all-natural alternative to chemicals and pesticides; thus, their presence should be encouraged.
Our last, and smallest, resident owl is the Eastern Screech-Owl. Standing only about eight inches tall, my grandmother called them “shivering owls” because of their whinny-like call that is often followed by a haunting trill. She also believed that, if it was heard for three consecutive nights, this bird brought with it doom and almost certain death to a loved one or family member. This belief was almost as absurd as what she thought a person should do to make the owl “hush up”. She sincerely believed you would have to “choke your pinky”, squeezing your little finger until the bird flies away. I am a scientist and, though I loved my grandmother dearly, I do not subscribe to any of her superstitions. She would probably freak out to know I had Eastern Screech-Owls nesting in a box in my front yard for eight years in a row. If she were here now, I’d be the first show her the nest box, place an owlet in her hands, and assure her that I’ve lost no one important because of the owls. If the owls did, in fact, bring death every three nights, I’d have no friends or family left after those eight years!
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/sounds
Eastern Screech Owls come in two main color morphs: red and gray. There is a less common brown color morph that is a blend of the red and gray morphs. The reasons for the variation in color isn’t at all clear, as they’re not specific to males or females. And it is very common for red color morph Eastern Screech Owls to mate with gray color morph Eastern Screech Owls. Additionally, offspring from breeding pairs of Eastern Screech Owls of the same color morph will likely be of both color morphs. As a side note, I checked my records and I’ve banded 158 Eastern Screech Owls and I promise you I smiled from ear-to-ear while banding each and every one of them!
Now that we know some of the facts and we understand the origins of some of the superstitions surrounding these incredible birds, I hope we can all appreciate them for the natural marvels they truly are. They are not bringers of sickness and death and they are certainly not evil creatures. Instead, they are masters of stealth and have excelled at using the very darkness they live in to their favor. So, the next time you hear or see an owl, remember you are in the presence of an evolutionary marvel!
Digging Deeper into Owls
With your indulgence, I thought we’d dig into owls a little more. Let’s start with a closer look at owls, in general. Then, if you’ll allow it, I thought I’d spotlight the four species of owls tomorrow that could potentially be found in and around the Harmony Hill area.
There is an enchantment that accompanies the darkness, and it isn’t difficult to understand why so many cultures throughout history have held reverence for the creatures that inhabit the night. To early humans, any animal that was able to succeed behind the deep purple veil of night must surely be magical or possess abilities not granted by anything of this realm. Perhaps it is this reason that such superstition surrounds owls. Without a doubt, I get asked more questions about owls than just about any other group of birds, with the majority of those questions being related to superstition and old wives’ tales.
Owls date back some 60 million years and are the epitome of evolutionary success, having become the rulers of the nighttime air. Interest in owls goes back to prehistoric humans, with owls being one of only a few birds depicted in prehistoric cave paintings. Eagles, falcons, and hawks may be held in high esteem in various cultures for strength or speed; but owls are almost uniformly admired for their apparent wisdom and sage judgment. The veneration of owls is carried over into the fact that a group of owls is referred to as a “parliament” or “wisdom” of owls.
The likely explanation of this can be traced back to Greek mythology, where the Little Owl was an ever-present companion of the Greek goddess, Athena. As it would happen, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, justice, courage, and strategy. Athena’s Roman counterpart, Minerva, was also closely identified with owls. Romans believed owls were sent by Minerva to warn of potential danger and this eventually led to owls being linked to ill outcomes. Romans also believed the night air contained and carried disease, pollution, and death. Since owls are found in what was viewed as that same miasmic air, the legend of owls bringing death gained traction.
In the lower piedmont, there are four species of owls – Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Barn Owl, and Eastern Screech-Owl. All four species are year-round residents and breed here. There are also a couple of rare visitors to the lower piedmont. Occasionally, you might find vagrant Short-eared Owls and Northern Saw-whet Owls drifting south of their normal ranges in the winter, to spend some cold nights hunting nearby fields and forests. While these visits are rare, they pale in comparison to the visitor from a few years back. A Snowy Owl made its way extremely south back in January 2012, making it one of the most unusual feathered visitors to the lower piedmont.
Each of these amazing owls is subject to myth and lore that stems from their nocturnal behavior and the mystery surrounding how they survive. By taking a look at how owls are built, we can get a better understanding of the ways they have succeeded at living in the shadows and lightlessness. First of all, owls possess flight feathers that have tiny rough and tattered edges that deafen the sound of air flowing over the wings. They are also covered, down to their talons, with very soft feathers that dampen any noise that could be made as they move. If prey can’t hear owls flying towards them, the first time most know they’re being hunted is when the owl is gathering them in its talons. Owls were flying with stealth millions of years before Lockheed’s Skunk Works developed the Have Blue. Quiet as a mouse is good. Quiet as an owl is even better!
Secondly, owls have eyes that have evolved to utilize even the smallest amount of light. Eyes contain photoreceptors called rods and cones. Rods are sensitive to changes in light and shadows and cones are sensitive to colors. (The way I’ve always remembered this is C = Cones and Color, R = Rods and Reduced Light) Owls have a tremendous number of rods, the light sensitive photoreceptors, packed into eyes that are large and cylindrical in shape, providing them unsurpassed night vision. Some species of owls have night vision that is an amazing one hundred times more sensitive than our own. Their eyes are also so large that they fill their sockets to the point that owls can’t move their eyes. While this is a disadvantage to some point, the eyes are set wide apart on their faces and provide terrific binocular vision. This inability to move their eyes is made up for by being able to turn their heads a great deal farther than humans. More on that in a moment.
Finally, owls have ears that are placed at different heights on the sides of their heads. The pronounced asymmetry of the ears gives owls extremely accurate hearing, and it grants them a phenomenal talent to locate prey in darkness and under the shroud of vegetation or even snow. Owls frequently fine-tune the location of sounds by pivoting and bobbing their heads. Now you know why owls are often nodding their heads from side to side! They are able to turn their heads 270 degrees on deceptively long necks, which is 90 degrees more than we are capable of doing. Allow me to take this opportunity to dispel another old wives’ tale; you cannot make an owl wring its own neck by walking in a circle around it. I never really understood why anyone would want to try that. But, people are odd…
Again, if you’ll indulge me, we will take a little closer look tomorrow at each of the four species found in the lower piedmont. All four species are quite incredible and fill necessary niches in the ecosystems found right there in the Harmony Hill area!