Nature Strollers

The mission of the Nature Strollers is to support parents and grandparents in their role as primary interpreters of nature for their families; to provide opportunities for families to enjoy unstructured time outdoors; to familiarize families with local trails, refuges, sanctuaries and preserves; and to develop networks among families with a common interest in nature.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Whooo Cooks for You?

Nature Strollers Introduced to Local Owls

Giselle Smenko, a wildlife rehabilitator from the Avian Wildlife Center in New Jersey visited the Orange County Audubon Society with several of her feathered friends. Here she holds a barred owl, perhaps familiar to you by its haunting call "Who cooks for you? Whoo cooks for you, all?" While it looks large, Giselle mentioned that barred owls like this one weigh around a single pound. She demonstrated that this guy's size is mostly feathers by showing us how deep her finger could penetrate before she touched his neck and by showing us an owl's skull, which is narrow and shaped nothing like the dish-shaped arrangement of feathers on their faces.



A Shy Fellow
This saw-whet owl is smaller than he looks in the photo. This pint-sized predator is easily camouflaged in fir trees and often perches quite close to the ground, but is seldom seen. Saw-whets have an unusual beeping call that sounds nothing like the stereotypical hoot. Though this one did not leave his enclosure, he was my kids personal favorite.


Does this look like a dangerous owl to you?

This screech owl may not look like a tiny terror, but he was hand-raised by people not trained in the art of wildlife rehabilitation. This means he can be a bit unpredictable in his behavior and more likely to act agressively than the other owls in Giselle's care. Screech owls have two calls, one like a horse's whinny and another low beep-hoot. These owls are often found in suburban areas. The clumps of feathers atop their heads are not ears, but do help the owl in its effort to resemble a dead branch when it is resting.