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Owls:
Whooooo's Finding Romance in the Cold of
Winter?
North American
humans celebrate our most romantic holiday, Valentine's Day, in the dead
of winter. Few North American birds are thinking about the birds and the
bees--they're too caught up in surviving the winter. But one group of
birds finds February the most romantic month of all--owls.
The Great Horned Owl Keeps a Warm Nest
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The most widespread, common owl on the continent is the Great Horned Owl. This hardy species can not only survive temperatures close to forty below zero--it can sit in that frigid air while incubating eggs, keeping them a toasty 37 degrees C! A healthy bird's body temperature fluctuates more than ours does, but a Great Horned Owl's body temperature in Minnesota in during February has been recorded from 37.5 to 40.4 degrees C. The owl's abundant, thick body feathers allow her to share her warmth with the eggs while keeping the frigid outside air out. Of course, her body is warming the eggs from above. But their nest is in an unheated tree. What protects the eggs from icy temperatures below?
Owls Call
to Find Mates
For owls to lay eggs in February and March, they must first find a mate.
Normally owls are solitary birds, and the way they attract a mate from
a distance is by hooting. Both males and females call to one another.
Great Horned Owls have a variety of calls, so complex that ornithologists
don't really understand the meanings of most of them. But they have determined
that most male calls are deeper, richer, and longer than female calls.
- Listen to the hoot of two Great Horned Owls. (Wait for download, 404K file.)
- This is the snapping call Great Horned Owls might make when they land right near eachother. If you listen carefully, you might hear it snapping its bill. (Wait for download, 246K file.)
- This is the warning call Great Horned Owl parents make when a potential predator approaches their nest or fledglings. What might have caused them to make this particular call? (Answer: Lang Elliot with his tape recorder!) (Wait for download, 297K file) All recordings courtesy of Lang Elliot.
Practice
Your Hoot
A lot of Great Horned Owl calls are easy for humans to imitate. Can you
hoot like a Great Horned Owl? With practice, you might be able to call
a Great Horned Owl in so you can see it! This works best at nighttime.
Before you go, read about a father and daughter calling for owls in
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. It's available in any library.
(See our Owl Moon Reading and
Writing Connection!)
In daytime, you are not likely to hear owls, and it's hard to see them camouflaged against tree trunks, hiding in the shadows. But one bird searches out owls and when it finds them, it's mobbing caws can be heard for a long distance.If you hear ANGRY-sounding crows, check it out! There may be an owl closer than you think!
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| Learn
More Facts About Owls Here! |
Learn
About the Owls of Harry Potter! |
| Owls of Harry Potter |
Journaling Questions
- It's interesting that owls can successfully hatch eggs in such a cold season, but the big question is, WHY any bird would even think about laying eggs in February. What are some reasons why North American owls might breed in mid and late winter?
- How do you think owl eggs keep their heat while in an unheated nest?
Copyright
2004 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
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