Latest news with #GreatHornedOwl
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Why owls sleep during the day and hunt at night: The science of nocturnal birds
Ever noticed an owl dozing in daylight? It's not being lazy, it's evolution in action. Discover why owls are active at night and how their biology makes them perfect nighttime predators. Owls are mysterious creatures, silent, wide-eyed, and seemingly out of place during the day. While most birds chirp and fly in the daylight, owls are often found resting, their eyes half-closed, tucked into the shadows. But why do owls sleep during the day and hunt at night? The answer lies in how these birds evolved. From their incredible eyesight to their stealthy flight, owls are made for moonlight. Their daily routine isn't laziness, it's a perfectly tuned survival strategy crafted by nature over millions of years. Owls are nocturnal by design Owls belong to a category of animals called nocturnal creatures , animals that are most active during the night and rest during the day. This isn't a random sleep cycle. It's nature's way of giving owls an edge in the wild. By sleeping during the day, they avoid competition and conserve energy for night-time hunting, when fewer predators are around. Owl eyes are built for the dark One of the biggest reasons owls sleep during the day is their extraordinary night vision. Owl eyes are: Large and forward-facing for better depth perception Packed with rod cells, which are highly sensitive to low light Almost tube-shaped, allowing them to gather more light than a typical bird This makes them perfect for spotting prey like mice, insects, or small birds in nearly complete darkness. But it also means that bright daylight can feel too intense, making sleep a biological necessity. Owls avoid daytime predators and rivals Owls aren't the only birds of prey but they're among the few that dominate the night sky. By hunting at night, they: Avoid competition with hawks, eagles, and other daytime raptors Reduce the risk of being spotted by predators Catch prey that is more vulnerable at night Sleeping during the day is simply part of their strategic energy cycle, conserve during the light, dominate in the dark. Owl body clocks run opposite to ours Just like humans follow a circadian rhythm (active in daylight, sleepy at night), owls have a nocturnal biological clock. Their bodies: Release melatonin during the day, making them drowsy Increase alertness and hunting instincts at night Follow a sleep-wake cycle that aligns with moonlight hours Even if they're kept in artificial light, most owls naturally revert to being night-active, proving how deeply wired this behaviour is. Not all owls are strictly nocturnal While most owls, like the Barn Owl and Great Horned Owl, are true night hunters, some species are active at other times: Burrowing Owls and Northern Hawk Owls can be seen hunting during the day In regions with long daylight (like the Arctic), some owls adjust to dusk or dawn activity (crepuscular behaviour) Still, the vast majority of owls prefer the quiet and coolness of night. Owl flight is designed for silent hunting Hunting at night wouldn't be as effective if owls were noisy. But nature has gifted them with: Soft-edged feathers that reduce sound A flight pattern so silent, prey doesn't hear them coming Hearing so sharp, they can detect a mouse under snow A ll these features work best in low-light environments. Sleeping during the day keeps them rested and ready for nighttime precision. Owls sleeping during the day isn't odd, it's a result of millions of years of evolution. Their night-adapted eyes, stealthy bodies, and strategic instincts make them perfectly suited for the darkness. So the next time you spot an owl napping on a sunny branch, don't mistake it for laziness, it's just recharging for another shift as nature's most efficient night hunter. Also read| Brightest lizards on Earth: 10 stunning species you need to see
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hissing owls heard in Ohio: Here's what it means
[WATCH: In the video player above, get a rare look at Great Horned Owl nest.] (WJW) — What's that sound? Wildlife experts in Ohio say an eerie hissing sound coming from the trees could be a young barred owl calling out to its parents for food. Tick-related emergency room visits have doubled: Cleveland Clinic physician In a recent post to the Ohio Division of Wildlife Facebook page, officials shared a picture of a young barred owl they said was recently spotted in a central Ohio backyard where several more owls were seen flying and at least one was hissing. According to the post, juveniles use this call to signal to their parents they are hungry. The Geauga Park District has previously addressed similar reports after a shrill-like call was heard in Novelty. Naturalist Tami Gingrich explained, 'It's an eerie sound but very distinct.' Smell that? Corpse flower blooms at Akron greenhouse According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, barred owls typically hatch from late March into mid-April. But they are not able to fly until seven to nine weeks of age. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Auburn University Raptor Center's foster parents helping orphaned Owls return to wild
AUBURN, Ala. — At Auburn University's Raptor Center, the work of saving injured and orphaned birds of prey often relies on some very special members of the team: their full-time, non-releasable foster raptors. Among them is Echo, a Great Horned Owl who has lived at the center for 20 years after suffering a wing injury that made her unable to survive in the wild. Echo now serves as a foster parent to orphaned owlets brought into the center's rehabilitation clinic — an effort that dramatically increases the birds' chances of a successful release. 'Here at the rehabilitation clinic, we have full-time fosters that are non-releasable residents,' said Dr. Robyn Miller, Director of the Auburn University Raptor Center. 'These fosters are wild birds that are able to raise orphans brought into our hospital, allowing them to imprint on their own kind and therefore increasing the likelihood of a successful release.' Echo is a standout foster, fiercely defensive towards humans — exactly the behavior experts hope young raptors will learn. 'She teaches them to be defensive around humans. She preens them, she feeds them, and she is always quick to take these fosters in as her own,' Dr. Miller explained. 'Echo is spicy, she's fiercely independent, and she's the boss of this rehabilitation clinic in many respects.' Because human interaction can be harmful to the rehabilitation process, staff monitor Echo and her companion, Sam — another non-releasable Great Horned Owl — mainly through closed-circuit surveillance cameras. WRBL was provided special remote footage to share with viewers, honoring the center's mission to minimize human presence around the young owlets. Sam, who arrived about a year ago after suffering a broken wing, is more protective than nurturing but plays a vital role in modeling survival behaviors for the young birds. 'Our goal is to have fosters that can support any incoming patient that comes through,' Miller said. 'Red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, and screech owls also serve as foster parents at the center, helping to prepare orphaned wildlife for life back in the wild.' Stephanie Kadletz, Assistant Director of Raptor Rehabilitation, emphasized the importance of responsible wildlife rescue. 'Oftentimes when a young raptor is seen on the ground, it's simply exploring, with a parent nearby keeping watch,' she said. 'Because raptors have such strong talons, they can often climb back into their nests even if they cannot fly. Before you intervene, it's critical to be sure the bird truly needs help.' Outdoor Alabama maintains a list of licensed rehabilitators across the state for those who encounter wildlife in distress. Kadletz urged the public never to offer food or water to wild birds, which could lead to harmful human imprinting — something best left to seasoned foster parents like Echo. Dr. Amberley Sokoloff, veterinarian at the AU Raptor Center, captured the spirit of the mission simply. 'What does it feel like to have a successful release into the wild?' she said. 'There's nothing better in the world.' 'It's truly amazing to get these animals back into the wild where they belong,' added Kadletz. Currently, Echo and Sam are caring for six young Great Horned Owls — many of which arrived after falling from nests and sustaining injuries. Thanks to their wild foster parents, these owlets are well on their way to one day soaring free. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Athena the Owl named Austin's official owl ambassador
AUSTIN (KXAN) — She is beauty, she is grace. She is Austin's official owl ambassador! RELATED | Athena's owl cam captures egg cracking, owlet breaking free at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center After years of being a nocturnal aviary legend in the city, Austin honored Athena, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's resident Great Horned Owl, with the proclamation at a ceremony Friday morning. The proclamation came just days after both of Athena's eggs hatched. The first owlet broke out of its shell Wednesday — the second on Thursday. Athena's owlets are hatching, so what's next? For years, Athena has made her nest at the southwest Austin center. This was her 13th season, according to the city. The owlets are expected to stay in the nest for the next four months while they learn important skills before leaving completely. Watch Athena and her owlets through the LBJ Wildflower Center and Cornell Labs owl cam. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Athena's owl cam captures egg cracking, owlet breaking free at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Athena, the Great Horned Owl who nests at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, surprised owl cam viewers Wednesday by displaying a cracked egg and later the first owlet fully hatching in her nest. According to the Wildflower Center, Athena first arrived at the nest on March 5, and by March 6, she had laid her first egg. Her second egg was laid on March 9. Owl eggs typically take around 30 to 37 days to begin hatching—a process that usually lasts several days and not all at once. According to the Owl Research Institute, a female Great Horned Owl typically lays anywhere from one to four eggs; however, the most common is two. Immediately after laying her first egg, they are incubated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
