The first time I ever saw an owl in the wild was just outside of Airdrie Alberta. It was March and I could just make out the feathered “ears” of a great horned owl nesting in an old craggy tree along a gravel highway. Two things struck me about that encounter: 1. Wow owls nest early. 2. She seemed unperturbed by her proximity to the highway.
I tried taking a couple of photos but as you already know if you’ve been following me for a while, I had a crappy 5MB digital camera or a flip phone to choose from. Neither of those were capable of zooming in enough to make out her head poking up above the sticks of the nest.
I learned a bit later that owls are some of the first birds to begin nesting often starting in March. They have one of the longest incubation periods, usually between 28-30 days. Apparently it is quite common for Great Horned Owls to nest in close proximity to human development and indeed some Great Horned Owls choose nesting sites in areas where human activity might to deter predators.
I have been fortunate to have a number of delightful encounters with owls while exploring the northern landscape. Each species has their own charm and the personalities of individuals can range from overtly hostile to casually disinterested. A few years ago, there was a Great Horned Owl that attacked a number of people who probably ventured too close to her nest.
I’ve documented four species of owls in my time as a nature photographer (not including the deceased long eared owl discovered by a friend). They include: Northern Hawk Owl, Great Grey Owl, Great Horned Owl and the Short Eared Owl. I have a number of owls still on my checklist including the elusive Snowy Owl, the Barred Owl, and the tiny Boreal Owl.
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition. Feel free to share or invite others who might enjoy the images and stories.