Critter Class Great Horned Owl Quinn - WCV Caring for Critters

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1 Please adopt me!! Critter Class Great Horned Owl Quinn - WCV Caring for Critters October 18, 2011 Please adopt me, too!! Papa G Ho - WCV Caring for Critters Do GHO's have any sense of smell? No - most birds have minimal smell - of course vultures have good smellers. LOL So now we r all NIGHT OWLS...:), :), :) All the more reason to take laptop to bed. LOL As they have "great" in their name, I assume they can grow to larger sizes than the one we have here. OK - maybe it is time to start our class which just happens to be on the Great Horned Owl. The best way to start is with this video You Tube Berwick Great Horned Owl Critter Class Great Horned Owl 1 10/18/2011

2 Great Horned Owl Birds of North America Online MVK, speaking of GHO's sense of smell - they are one of a very few predators who will actually eat skunks!! Hi MVK what s the animal tonight GHO or great horned owl. Did you watch the link to the video? One year they had a red light on the eagle nest. Saw an owl visit the nest one night. Shook up Mama Eagle. Yes that was in 2008 when she jumped up and broke the two eggs. GHO are most active at night but are known to hunt some during the day. Being active for them doesn't necessarily mean they are flying all around and stuff - they are watching, waiting, looking, and listening for dinner to come by. Learned while helping my daughter with her Barred Owl report that the only predator of the Barred Owl is the Great Horned Owl (GHO)... Interesting video. Often wondered how they were able to fly silently. And the info on their talons, learning lots of neat things. Critter Class Great Horned Owl 2 10/18/2011

3 Good video on the GHO. The female sounds like she is huge. Would love to see a side by side of a male and female. Especially if they're held by a human to really see the size. Wide variety of habitats: deciduous, mixed, or conifer forests, but prefers open and secondarygrowth temperate woodlands, swamps, orchards, and agricultural areas. Home range usually includes some open habitat of fields, wetlands, pastures, or croplands (DGS). In Cascade Mtns. of central Oregon, rare in landscapes containing >70% old-growth forest (Johnson 1993). In Wisconsin, prefers oak (Quercus spp.; Orians and Kuhlman 1956) and elm (Ulmus spp.; Petersen 1979); in s. Appalachian Mtns., prefers old-growth stands (McGarigal and Fraser 1984); in Alabama, inhabits broken woods of farming areas and other temporary openings that blend into mature forest (James and Neal 1986); in deserts, needs cliffs or Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) for nesting (Smith and Murphy 1982); in Rocky Mtns., appears to increase in areas of clearing (Johnson 1993); in s.- central Pennsylvania, uses cropland and pasture more than deciduous and total forest cover, indicating preference for fragmented landscapes (Morrell and Yahner 1994). May be found in wooded residential parks, suburban, and even urban areas (Franks and Warnock 1969, Minor et al. 1993). In South America, widespread in Andes Mtns., mainly at 2,500 4,500 m (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990). Per Birds of North American online I watched the video on GHO AND the one following it to hear the 'hoot'. Thanks for the primer. Owl Sounds May alight and walk on ground to pursue small prey hidden in brush; also walks along ledges, along branches, and around nests. Generally a poor walker on ground; walks like a starling, with a pronounced side-to-side gait. Rapid walking usually accompanied by wing-flapping, especially when chasing prey short distances over ground, also when being chased and in preparation for flight (DGS). Flightless young, once half-grown, can climb trees using feet (sometimes accompanied by wing-flapping), usually choosing angled trunk to gain elevation out of reach of mammalian predators (DGS, CSH). Preens feathers usually shortly after a flight, sometimes before. Preening is more common in windy weather. Preens chest-feathers occasionally. While preening, often using uropygial gland secretions, sometimes nibbles at and extends feathers through or along mandibles. Usually uses 1 forward claw, sometimes 2 or 3 forward claws, to scratch back of head, upper neck, facial disc, and under bill. Critter Class Great Horned Owl 3 10/18/2011

4 Stretches, usually before and sometimes after flights. Stretching includes lateral extensions of wings and legs; usually alternately stretches wing and leg on each side. Sometimes stretches both wings overhead, either flexed or stretched out and upright in shape of V, or sometimes extends both wings forward over bowed head. Bathing in wild is rarely observed: Sits at edge of water, or with legs and lower body shallowly submerged. Bathes by vigorous movements of feet and wings, splashing water on head and upper body (DGS). The video is wonderful! They think the "horns" are for blending in to their environments. Breaks up the shape. Do they hoot like barred owls? Do you have a map to share of where they live. Are they in New England? The map won't copy but the entire US, most of Canada, Alaska Early descriptions of courtship displays summarized by Bent (1938). Male approaches female with much bowing and hooting. Male cocks his tail, swells his white bib, and with much bobbing and jerking utters series of deep sonorous calls that elicit calling responses by female, followed by cautious approach to female, continuing much tail-bobbing and posturing. The 2 engage in bouts of calling ( duetting ) and bowing with wings drooped or cocked at angles to body. In both sexes, courtship calls are accompanied by expansion of white bib of neck-feathers and tail-bobbing in synchrony; especially pronounced in males. Movements and fluffed white bib may enhance visual stimulus between members of courting pair during low-light conditions in which courtship occurs. Calling and posturing is alternated with sometimes extensive periods of mutual bill-rubbing or preening of feathers of head, neck, and chest as an aid to pair-bonding. Voous (1988) added that courting pairs also indulge in high-pitched giggling, screaming, and billsnapping. Male may call to female from vicinity of potential nest sites, sometimes while on what will be the future nest (DGS). Copulation usually concludes courtship (DGS). Extraordinarily variable; wider range of nest sites than any other bird in the Americas (Baumgartner 1938). Most commonly uses tree nests of other species in whatever tree is available, but also uses cavities in trees and snags, cliffs, deserted buildings, and artificial platforms, and will lay eggs on the ground. Critter Class Great Horned Owl 4 10/18/2011

5 Range 1 4, very rarely 5, most commonly 2 Hi Marianne & everyone! How large is a GHO's typical clutch? Kathleen - when I heard it was the GHO and they would leave it up later at night so we could watch, I thought of all those who live on the West coast and don't get to watch. I am so so happy the "night shift" has something to watch and something we can learn about. I admit that owls are not what I know the most about but with Google and the internet - we will all learn together. Amanda is also giving lots of info for us to share. That was a great video on GHO Very informative. Thank you MVK We watched one from the same company on the RTH I believe. They are very good and show things like the talons and the feathers - something we would not see or notice on the cam. Hi MVK. So it owls tonight! How big is GHO, he seem so small in that enclosure Great Horned Owls range in length from in (46 69 cm) and have a wingspan of in ( cm); Females are larger than males, an average adult being 22 in (55 cm) long with a 49 in (124 cm) wingspan and weighing about 3.1 lbs (1400 g). Depending on subspecies, Great Horned Owls can weigh from kg ( lb).[1] Per Wikipedia I heard that this GHO only has one horn. If it is just feathers, I wonder how he lost it. Probably from trauma he sustained. After he goes through his full head molt in the summer he should again have two horns. I was surprised to find out that this owl is just over 2 lbs. I think my visiting GHO was MUCH larger. During my research I read that the GHO can take prey 2 to 3 times their own weight. Made me kind of nervous because I have small dogs, 5-7 lbs. Smaller prey they will sometimes swallow whole but larger mammals they will dismember and pull apart to eat. Critter Class Great Horned Owl 5 10/18/2011

6 MVK, how many eggs/babies do GHOs have? Usually 1-4, 5 rare, 2 normal MVK thanks for the Owl sounds I found the noise I've been hearing for the past 4 nights, I've see-sawed between a cat or a bird, decided a bird last night and now I am pretty sure it is a juvie owl, I did hear a hoo-hoo tonight. Isn't it late in the day for a juvie? Juvies have to live somewhere. LOL Wow, they can even make cat calls...meee ooowww! Here kitty kitty kitty, or bark! Guess if we hear a cat or dog at night it could actually be a GHO???? Went camping two weekends ago and while sitting around the campfire at nite we heard the GHO calling. Wasn't sure what it was till I heard the Owl call you just posted. This relates to the subject of owls: I am sure Rhoda may have already posted here earlier, but for anyone who has not yet seen---this video of the owl today is HYSTERICAL!!!! Rhoda said that with the new IR light going in today and Amanda going in to check the light saber that the Star Wars theme was too much for her to resist! LOL! This is good therapy after a stressful day! THANKS Rhoda! %2FCritterCamWildlifeCenterOfVirginia% &h=JAQAsSg7aAQBqcs4ENrhT0D9zFQR9z5A2OsnLtNNFPgx_GQ Did someone ask why owls make no sound when they fly? I think the answer is that owls feathers have soft edges, while most other avians have ridged edges to their feathers. The barn owl is silent and very fast, flies close to the ground to catch small critters. Yes it was on the video we watched earlier. These GHO's are fantastic. So lucky to learn so much about our wildlife friends here. Have always had a special feeling for owls...have had screech, GHO's, gray, and barn owls in the past, but never knew so much as this year. Bird books are too "fact" at times and less about the real bird. Love the 'puter & what it can do for us. Critter Class Great Horned Owl 6 10/18/2011

7 Love listening to GHOs in the woods behind my house. Have never seen one. We also have Screech Owls which I have seen at dusk. My mother called them shivering owls because of their call. Hi MVK! Love the GHO. The Medina Raptor Center is having an owl walk Sat. Do not know what to expect but it should a great evening. They have owl prowls at NBG too. I was surprised to learn they also live in South America Apparently, they don't migrate unless they live at the northernmost ranges, like in the coldest spots. Does anyone know where the idea of owls being wise originated? These birds also have pounds per square inch of crushing power in their talons. An average adult human male has about 60 pounds per square inch in his hands.[citation needed] In northern regions, where larger prey that cannot be eaten quickly are most prevalent, they may let uneaten food freeze and then thaw it out later using their own body heat. They also tend to eat and regurgitate food in the same locations. Per Wikipedia Great Horned Owls are some of the earliest-breeding birds in North America. They breed in late January or early February and are often heard calling to each other in the fall, starting in October. They choose a mate by December and are often heard duetting before this time. For owls found in more tropical climates, the dates of the breeding season are somewhat undefined. They often take over a nest used by some other large bird, sometimes adding feathers to line the nest but usually not much more. Old crow and raven (Corvus), Redtailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) or large squirrel nests are often favored in North America. However, they are far from dependent on the old nests of others and may use cavities in trees and snags, cliffs, deserted buildings, and artificial platforms. Per Wikipedia The Great Horned Owl was first seen in the Virginia colonies, so its species name was created from the Latinised form of the name of this territory (originally named for Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen"). The first published description was made in 1788 by Johann Gmelin. Great Horned Owls are sometimes known as Hoot Owls, Cat Owls or Winged Tiger. Per owl pages Critter Class Great Horned Owl 7 10/18/2011

8 They do not build a nest of their own but utilise the nests of other birds such as the hawk, crow and heron. They may also use squirrel nests, hollows in trees, rocky caves, clumps of witches broom, abandoned buildings, or on artificial platforms. They are extremely aggressive when defending the nest and will continue to attack until the intruder is killed or driven off. Normally, two to four eggs are laid and incubated by the female only for days. Young start roaming from the nest onto nearby branches at 6 to 7 weeks, when they are called "branchers", but cannot fly well until 9 to 10 weeks old. They are fed for another few weeks as they are slowly weaned. Families remain loosely associated during summer before young disperse in the autumn. Adults tend to remain near their breeding areas year-round while juveniles disperse widely, over 250 km (150 miles) in the autumn. Territories are maintained by the same pair for as many as 8 consecutive years, however, these Owls are solitary in nature, only staying with their mate during the nesting season. Average home ranges in various studies have been shown to be approximately 2.5 square kms (1 square mile). Per owl pages If you are lucky, at night in the woods you can still hear GHO owlets begging for food. I heard them last week. I think the parents continue to feed them through the fall though the babies are learning to hunt themselves. Mortality: A long-lived Owl, captive birds have been known to live 29 to 38 years, and wild Owls up to 13 years. Most mortality is related to man - shootings, traps, road kills and electrocutions. The only natural enemies are other Great Horned Owls and, occasionally, Northern Goshawks during disputes over nest sites. Peregrine Falcons have also been observed attacking Great Horned Owls. per Owl Pages Hunting & Food: Great Horned Owls hunt by perching on snags and poles and watching for prey, or by gliding slowly above the ground. From high perches they dive down to the ground with wings folded, before snatching prey. Prey are usually killed instantly when grasped by its large talons. They also hunt by walking on the ground to capture small prey or wading into water to snatch frogs and fish. They have been known to walk into chicken coops to take domestic fowl. Rodents and small rabbits can be swallowed whole while larger prey are carried off and ripped apart at feeding perches or at the nest. Birds are often plucked first, and legs and wing tips discarded. An extremely wide range of prey species (over 250 identified) are captured, but rabbits and hares are its preferred prey. Mammalian prey includes all coexisting rodents, squirrels, mink, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, porcupines, shrews, moles, muskrats, and bats. They may sometimes take small domestic dogs and cats. Bird prey includes all other Owls (except Snowy Owl), grouse, woodpeckers, crows, turkeys, pigeons, Red-tailed Hawks, bitterns, Great Blue Heron, ducks, swans, gulls, etc. Reptiles include snakes, turtles, lizards, and young alligators. Amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders. Other foods include fish, large insects, scorpions, centipedes, crayfish, worms, spiders, and road killed animals. A Great Horned Owl is powerful enough to take prey 2 to 3 times heavier than itself. Critter Class Great Horned Owl 8 10/18/2011

9 Pellets are very large, about 7.6 to 10.2 cm (3-4") long and 3.8 cm (1.5") thick. Pellets are dark greyish-black and compact. Skulls as wide as 3 cm (1.2") are regurgitated whole. Pellets are regurgitated 6 to 10 hours after eating. Per owl pages MVK, Owls don't mate for life? I haven't seen that. I have seen where they are monogamous during the mating period though. Hi MVK! Just wanted to say my 3rd graders will be dissecting owl pellets tomorrow! They are soooo excited! I am so glad they will get to do that. Very exciting. Loving the owl on the cam!!! Perhaps the earliest known link between owls and wisdom is their association with Athena. The Greek goddess of wisdom is often depicted holding an owl. =wiki answers Oh my - thank you - I never thought of that. If this has already been asked ignore it but do they mate for life I tried to find it but all I found was they are monogamous during mating season - so sounds like maybe they do not. Here s one thought: Perhaps the earliest known link between owls and wisdom is their association with Athena. The Greek goddess of wisdom is often depicted holding an owl. Every time I have had a Great Horned Owl in a flight pen...a wild owl has visited most every evening and early a.m.. And, only call when not on top of cage, but are in trees nearby. Thanks for being here tonight, MVK and thanks for all the info about the GHO - I don't think I would have hunted it up by myself tonight...too tired and scattered. Off to bed with the DWTS finale. (what a life, huh?) Critter Class Great Horned Owl 9 10/18/2011

10 That will be very cool to see the first pellet. Maybe they can sell them. Or with the owls they have maybe they already do. LOVE THAT THEY ARE MONOGAMOUS. Here is a fun article about a nesting pair of GHO's at Denver Int'l Airport. They are no longer there but it was fun while it lasted. From info on nesting you posted at 9:38--Territories are maintained by the same pair for as many as 8 consecutive years, however, these Owls are solitary in nature, only staying with their mate during the nesting season. Fun video of WCV s Davis installing the IR light while the GHO watches! Critter Class Great Horned Owl 10 10/18/2011