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Home > Blogs > Birds and Butterflies > Archives > 2010 > January > 07 > Entry
Beautiful Barred Owls
On Tuesday this week, we were strolling at Sugarcreek when the sight of wings among the beech trees caught my eye. The giant bird landed in a tree within sight, some ways off the trail. I borrowed binoculars and was able to see a beautiful barred owl turn its head toward me. This was not a first experience with a barred owl, but every barred owl I’ve ever seen has felt like the first. There was the familiar rush of adrenaline from discovering something really cool! MetroParks owl programs are my absolute favorite programs to lead because of the feelings these owls leave with me every time I see them and it is great fun to watch others fall under that same spell. Barred owls (Strix varia) are year-round residents in Ohio. They are found in dense forests with some moisture. They will eat small animals, including frogs, salamanders, snakes, birds, and insects. Mammals regularly consumed are opossum, rabbits, and squirrels. Like other owls, they are nocturnal and tend to be most active after sunset and just before sunrise. They will sit on a high perch, using their very sensitive eyes and ears to detect prey items below. During mating season, pairs will participate in duets to reinforce their bond. They will also bob their heads and bow to each other. Nests are usually old Red-tailed Hawk nests. Once eggs are laid, the female will incubate and take care of hatchlings at the nest while the males find food for the family. To learn more about Ohio’s owls, look in Parkways for our next available owl walk or workshop!
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Birds
Comments
By Katy
January 7, 2010 4:34 PM | Link to this
Blog By Katy Malcolm
By Jim Crotty
January 7, 2010 9:50 PM | Link to this
I think I saw the same Barred Owl, also at Sugarcreek. It was late afternoon on New Years Day and he flew very close to me, at eye level, as I was walking down the paved path to the parking lot. The Barred Owl is a beautiful bird. Unlike our other owl residents - the Screech and Great Horned - the Barred has dark eyes. What’s interesting to note is the parallel between our owl and hawk residents. Red-tailed, Coopers and Sparrow Hawks are similar in size to Great Horned, Barred and Screech, respectively. One finishes for the day, the other picks up at night.