Owls are often considered charismatic. Is it because of their large and specialized eyes, enabling them to see in the dark and conducting a mostly nocturnal lifestyle? Their association with wisdom in our collective consciousness? This association likely originates in Greek mythology, where Athena, goddess of wisdom, warfare, and handicraft, is often depicted with an … Continue reading Charismatic or Curmudgeonly?
My recent sighting of the juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owl reminded me of last year's Great-horned Owl nest I had occasion to observe over the course of several months. Between February 16 and May 7, 2021, I watched the nest transform from egg incubator to owlet crib to too-crowded nursery. I was so excited about the … Continue reading Nest of Miracles
…is the question I pose to my husband when I return home following my first-ever encounter with the bird in the photograph above on May 25. My inaugural meeting with a juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is made possible thanks to a fellow birder who has espied her (I’m randomly assigning a gender) shortly … Continue reading Can You See Why I’m In Love?
2018 could have been our “Y’attler” (Year of the Rattler), as my husband and I had three separate encounters with said reptiles (click here to read about one of them). Because most humans (save herpetologists) prefer feathery to scaly animals, myself included, and because I also made the acquaintance of three new owl species, I … Continue reading Y’ Owl
tanja britton 