Ep. 36 Let’s Talk About Owls

I always wondered why owls are “different” than other birds, why we are so obsessed with them and enjoy seeing them.

When you see or hear an owl, the experience is not the same as when you see any other bird; it is different; that is why for me, it is magical.

They are beautiful and of different sizes, types, have different sounds or calls, and live in many regions around the world.

I first saw an owl when I walked in a park near my house called Cold Spring Park.

I was walking between the wooded paths, and I stopped because in the distance, very far – I could not access because there were many bushes – I saw a figure I could not identify and it was very close to the trunk of a tree. It was like 5:00 pm in the fall, was kind of “dark-ish.”

JC Giraldo Picture

I still couldn’t identify it; I wondered, is it part of the tree itself, maybe a fallen branch? I had my camera with me, I had some lenses that weren’t telephoto, but it had a decent 300mm focus lens.

When I put on the zoom on the lenses in my camera, I could see that it was a Great Horned Owl !!

But everything did not end there, I took the photos I could, the access to get a little closer and the creaking of the branches made the task a bit difficult for me.

The rustling of the branches as I walked – I think – the beautiful Great Horned Owl flew away. Seeing him flying to me was something impressive and unforgettable, by the way; he moved his huge wings “slowly,”; I saw him until he disappeared within the forest. It was a spectacle.

The second time I saw an owl, it was night when I was walking with my friend and neighbor Susan and her dog Orion.

I stopped and said: hey Susan look in the house’s chimney in the distance!; it was very dark. We were able to identify that it was an owl, but we did not know what kind of owl was it.

I assume it could be a Great Horned because it was big too; maybe I’m wrong, we saw it for a few seconds, and it flew off quickly to the backyard of that house, hunting?

Those were my two experiences of seeing an owl. They are magical, whimsical, and I think they are very wise birds and are the real chiefs of the woods.

That is why I decided to invite someone to my podcast who knows owls and loves nature as I do.

I contacted Barbara Bates, a member of the board of Newton Conservators, a non-profit based in Newton, MA.

Newton Conservators is a citizens group that advocates for Newton’s open spaces. Also, they are a private, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Newton’s open space for wildlife and the community.

I enjoyed this conversation with Barbara Bates about owls πŸ¦‰. Barbara is a teacher naturalist for the Mass Audubon Society’s Habitat Sanctuary in Belmont, MA.

With Barbara, we discussed these topics about owls.

  • What is an Owl?
  • What is unique about an owl? What is their diet?
  • Facts about owls
  • How many species of owls do we have in Newton Area
  • Owls and Climate Change
  • The presence of humans can be stressful for owls, so it’s essential to understand and follow simple guidelines to ensure their safety.

We had a great time during our walkthrough Cold Spring Park and talking about owls.

For more info about owls, visit: All About Birds

Feature Image Credit: Pixabay