My Pal The Great Horned Owl

A Great Horned Owl lives out in back of my house, in a nature preserve for birds. It's a swampy area between us and the Napa River in California. I am very fortunate to be living here.

I heard this owl probably six months before I actually saw him. Maybe her, I don't know.

Although I think of him warmly, he is a wild animal, a predator. The Night Eagle is deadly and silent in battle. Fierce also. I salute you, Owlie.

Ok then.

Photo by Guy Polewaczyk

An ancient bird the owl is, full up with ancient wisdom and a keen hunter's eye. Protective, mystical. Many cultures consider the owl to be the symbol of death; some Native American tribes, the Japanese, and the Romanians see the owl as bad fortune, a bad omen. Death, misfortune, and punishment on the one hand, and on the other, wisdom, clarity of sight.

Authored by Linda M Hahn

Most magical of creatures,

You who've walked with gods.

And hunted with angels.

Power becomes you,

Silent, devastating

Eat what you kill.

Territory

North & South America

Size

2 - 5.5 pounds. The male is smaller.

Families

Mates for life. Appropriates the nest of other birds in the midst of winter. Tough bird.

222 species

Diet

Carnivore, they eat small animals, and lots of other birds too.

Life Span

5 to 15 years in the wild

Although some owls are on the endangered list, at this time Great Horned Owls are not.

Some owls that are at varying levels of endangerment are Boreal, Flammulated, Burrowing, Short Eared. The Laughing Owl and many others are already extinct.

What can we do? Save the forests, save the earth. Save the birds.

This mystical creature is in tune with the dark. It sees with detailed clarity. The owl looks to me like a cat sitting in the tree, all watchful perky ears and yellow eyes that see in the dark.

Thank you for visiting My Pal The Great Horned Owl.