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Owl News All About Owls Owl Art Owl Photos
Vol. 2 - Winter 2015
All Owl News All the Time!
Featured Owl:
Mike Lentz on Facebook
Mike Lentz Photography
The Great
White
Snowy Owl
And of course all of
Your Favorite Owl Art,
Jewelry and Owl News!

Table of
Contents
Pages 18 - 20
OWL JEWELRY
Pages 21- 24
THE INTERNATIONAL OWL
CENTER brings owl education
classes and experiences to
schools, and holds International
Owl Festival.
Page 25
FESTIVAL DEI GUFI - The
Italian Owl Festival features
staff from the International
Owl Center!
Page 27
HOO KNEW? Crazy
interesting owl facts about the
Great Horned Owl, Northern
Saw-Whet and the Eastern
Screech Owl.
Page 28-29
BAYTREE WILDLIFE AND
CONSERVATION
Page 35-36
LEGENDS OF THE
GAURDIANS - OWLS OF
GA’HOOLE film and graphic
novel release.
Page 37
Page 5
W.E.R.C. from Morgan Hill,
CA Wildlife conservation
OWL POWER - A PBS show
about two Barn Owl chicks
growing up in the UK.
Pages 6 - 11
FEATURED OWL - THE
SNOWY OWL facts,
photographs, migration maps.
Pages 12 - 15
OWL ART - from
contributing photographers,
painters, crafters.
image from owlaboutowls.com
Pages 16 -17
WORLD OWL TRUST - WOT
is what in owl conservation and
adoption in the UK.
Page 38-39
OWL MYTH AND LORE
Page 40
GLOBAL OWL PROJECT
studies on owl development

The Power of Owls
For centuries, owls have been featured in children’s books and folk tales capturing imaginations the
world over. With their haunting calls and charismatic faces, these birds remain popular but mysterious because
it’s rare to catch more than a glimpse of one in the wild. Unlike their cousins, the hawks, eagles and falcons,
owls are the only bird of prey able to also hunt effectively at night when they have the skies to themselves. This
has helped them become one of the most successful birds on earth, but the chief reason is due to their extraordinary
super powers. To examine these special skills, filmmakers enlisted the help of veteran bird handlers,
experts and technology to demonstrate and test the owl’s amazing abilities.
Internship: Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program
February 15 - June 30, 2016
The BC Conservation Foundation (BCCF) is seeking three applicants for a 20 week internship working on the
Northern Spotted Owl Captive Breeding Program. Interns will assist BCCF and Provincial Government staff
with the captive breeding of Spotted Owls at the facility located in Langley, BC, for future release into the wild.
Duties Include:
Daily Captive Care
Daily captive care of the owls is required to ensure each owl remains healthy and fit for breeding. Duties
will include diet preparations and feeding of owls, behavioral observations, cleaning and maintenance of owl
enclosures and work spaces, and the maintenance of mice and rat colonies that are bred to feed the owls.
There is also daily glove training of an imprinted barred owl to be used for education.
This posting closes on Monday, December 14th at 4:30 PM. No
late applications will be accepted.
http://www.bccf.com/jobs/2014/november/internship-northern-spotted-owl-breeding-program
Owl Power is a PBS documentary featuring the lives of two young Barn Owls growing up in the UK, with
Lloyd and Rose Buck, bird keepers and trainers. This documentary is amazing for anyone who loves owls.
It exemplifies the mysterious qualities that owls have like flying in silence, being able to find prey in harsh
conditions, ear placement and eye sight.
The cinematography in the documentary is stunning, as the crew at the Buck’s beautiful home surroundings
capture
the Barn Owls’, Luna and Lily, development from chickhood to young adulthood.
Owl Power on PBS - find out more information through the link, or you can see it on Netflix. PBS will also be
re-airing the show starting April 27th 2016.
Luna the Barn Owl demonstrates
on Owl Power how silent (and
deadly) owls can be when hunting,
in comparison to a falcon and
a pigeon. (The pigeon didn’t
have much of a chance in the
competition).
Owl Power on PBS

The Snowy Owl
Interesting
Snowy Owl Facts:
Map information attained by identify.whatbird.com
Mike Lentz Facebook
Mike Lentz Photography
Map and illustrations created by DreamID Graphics 2015

The Snowy Owl is a large diurnal white Owl with a rounded head, yellow eyes and black bill. The name
“scandiacus” is a Latinised word referring to Scandinavia, as the Owl was first observed in the northern
parts of Europe. Some other names for the Snowy Owl are Snow Owl, Arctic Owl, Great White Owl, Ghost
Owl, Ermine Owl, Tundra Ghost, Ookpik, Scandinavian Nightbird, White Terror of the North, and Highland
Tundra Owl. It is the official bird of Quebec, Canada.
Description: Sexes differ in the degree of dusky patterning on the white plumage.
Male: The facial disc is white and ill-defined. Eyes are bright yellow, rimmed by blackish eyelid edges. The cere
is dark grey, and is normally concealed by dense feathering. The bill is blackish. Ear-tufts are so small, they are
not visible. The upperparts are plain white, with a few dusky spots on the tiny ear-tufts, the alula and at the
tips of some primaries and secondaries.The tail feathers are nearly all white, sometimes with indistinct terminal
bars. Underparts are all white. Tarsi and toes are thickly feathered white. Claws are blackish.
Female: Spotted and slightly barred brown on the crown and upperparts. Flight and tail feathers are faintly
barred brown. Underparts are white, with brown spotting and barring on the flanks and upper breast.
Juveniles are dark greyish-brown.
Size: Length 51-68.5cm. Wingspan 137-164cm. Tail length 206-241mm. Weight 1134-2000g. Females are
larger and heavier than males.
Habits: Snowy Owls are active during the daytime, from dawn to dusk. They have a direct, strong, and
steady flight with deliberate, powerful downstrokes and quick upstrokes. They make short flights, close to
the ground, from perch to perch, and usually perches on the ground or a low post. During hot weather,
they can thermoregulate by panting and spreading their wings. Snowy Owls are very aggressive when
defending their nest.
Voice: The Snowy Owl is virtually silent during nonbreeding seasons. The typical call of the male is a loud,
harsh, grating bark, while the female has a similar higher pitched call. During the breeding season males
have a loud, booming "hoo, hoo" given as a territorial advertisement or mating call. Females rarely hoot. Its
alarm call is a guttural "krufff-guh-guh-guk". When excited it may emit a loud "hooo-uh, hooo-uh, hooo-uh,
wuh-wuh-wuh". Other sounds are dog-like barks, rattling cackles, shrieks, hissing, and bill-snapping.
Nestlings "cheep" up to 2 weeks of age, then hiss and squeal.
Habitat: The Snowy Owl is a bird of Arctic tundra or open grasslands and fields. They rarely venture
into forested areas. During southward movements they appear along lakeshores, marine coastlines,
marshes, and even roost on buildings in cities and towns. In the Arctic, they normally roost on pingaluks
(rises in the tundra) and breed from low valley floors up to mountain slopes and plateaus over 1000m
elevation. When wintering in the Arctic, they frequent wind-swept tundra with little snow or ice
accumulation. At more southern latitudes they typically frequents agricultural areas.
info from this article can be found at: theowlpages.com
Mike Lentz Facebook
Mike Lentz Photography

Breeding: Courtship behaviour can begin in midwinter through to March and April, well away from
breeding areas. Males will fly in undulating, moth-like flight when females are visible. On the ground
males will bow, fluff feathers, and strut around with wings spread and dragging on the ground. Males kill
and display prey in caches to impress females, often feeding the female. The Snowy Owl nests almost
exclusively on the ground, where the female makes a shallow scrape with her talons on top of an
elevated rise, mound, or boulder. Abandoned eagle nests and gravel bars are used occasionally. Nests
may be lined with scraps of vegetation and Owl feathers. Nest sites must be near good hunting areas, be
snow-free, and command a view of surroundings. There is little breeding site-faithfulness between years
or mates in some areas, but in other areas, a pair of Owls may nest in the same spot for several years.
Territories around nests range from 1.5 to 6.5 square kilometres (0.6 to 2.5 square miles), and overlap
with other pairs.
Harry Collins Photography
Hunting & Food: Most hunting is done in the “sit and wait” style. These Owls are highly diurnal,
although they may hunt at night as well. Prey are captured on the ground, in the air, or snatched off the
surface of water bodies. When taking snowshoe hares, a Snowy Owl will sink its talons into the back and
backflap until the hare is exhausted. The Owl will then break its neck with its beak. Snowy Owls have been
known to raid traplines for trapped animals and bait, and will learn to follow traplines regularly. They also
snatch fish with their talons. Small prey up to small hares are swallowed whole, while larger prey are carried
away and torn into large chunks. Small young are fed boneless and furless pieces. Large prey are carried of in
the Owl’s talons, with prey like lemmings being carried in the beak.
Snowy Owls are mainly dependent on lemmings and voles throughout most of their Arctic and wintering
range. When these prey are scarce they are an opportunistic feeder and will take a wide range of small
mammals and birds. Some mammal prey include mice, hares, muskrats, marmots, squirrels, rabbits, prairie
dogs, rats, moles, and entrapped furbearers. Birds include ptarmigan, ducks, geese, shorebirds, Ring-necked
Pheasants, grouse, American coots, grebes, gulls, songbirds, and Short-eared Owls. Snowy Owls will also take
fish and carrion. Some nesting Owls switch from lemmings and voles to young ptarmigan when they become
available. Snowy Owls do not hunt near their nests, so other birds, such as Snow Geese, often nest nearby
to take advantage of the Owls driving off predators such as foxes.
Snowy Owls produce large, rough-looking cylindrical pellets with numerous bones, feathers, and fur showing.
They are usually expelled at traditional roosting sites and large numbers of pellets can be found in one spot.
When large prey are eaten in small pieces with little roughage, pellets will not be produced.
Breeding occurs in May, Clutch and brood sizes are heavily dependent on food supply. Snowy Owls may
not nest at all during years of low lemming numbers. Clutch sizes normally range from 5 to 8 white eggs
but may be as many as 14 eggs during high lemming years. They are laid at approximately 2 day intervals
and average about 57 x 45 mm. The female incubates while the male brings her food and guards the
nest. Eggs hatch in 32-34 days at two day intervals, leading to large age differences in nests with large
clutch sizes. Young are covered in white down. Young begin to leave the nest after about 25 days, well
before they can fly. They are fledged at 50 to 60 days. Both parents feed and tend the young, and are
fiercely protective and may attack intruders up to 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) from the nest! Nestling Owls
require about 2 lemmings/day and a family of Snowy Owls may eat as many as 1,500 lemmings before
the young disperse. Snowy Owls are single brooded and likely do not lay replacement clutches if their
first clutch is lost. Almost 100% nesting success can be achieved during good vole years.
Numbers fluctuate wildly, usually in concert with lemming and vole numbers. For Example, Banks Island
may have 15,000 to 20,000 Snowy Owls during good lemming years and only 2,000 during low lemming
years with densities ranging from 1 Owl per 2.6 square kilometre (1 Owl per square mile) in good
lemming years to 1 Owl per 26 square kilometres (1 Owl per 10 square miles) in low lemming years.
Mortality: Snowy Owls can live at least 9.5 years in the wild and 35 years in captivity. Natural
enemies are few - Arctic foxes and wolves prey upon them on their tundra breeding grounds, while
skuas and jaegers may take eggs or chicks.
info from this article can be found at theowlpages.com

Amazing Owl Pebble Art & beautiful owl
pendants by
Michela Bufalini
Beautiful Barn Owl by
Travis Carpenter Photography
Silvia Logi Artworks: Owl Family under a Starrry Night. Super awesome. You can find more of Silvia’s
work at Silvia Logi Artworks
Amazing Snowy Owl & Eagle Owl drawing by Tiffany Moontrey Art

Stunning Snowy Owl by Jessie Fries of The Art Shoppe Jessart Studio Beautifully created, “Be Together” Owl watercolor by Wayside Boutique Art Gallery by Yui © 2015

Snowy Owls at
The World Owl Trust
Info from President Tony Warburton MBE.
World Owl Trust
There are currently two Snowy Owls that are at the
World Owl Trust, both of them are males. This is
because of two important reasons:
a) Snowy Owl owlets are prone to getting avian malaria,
(haemoproteus) a disease that is not found in their more
natural habitat, the Arctic tundra. In Britain, even if the
parents are uneffected by the malaria, the offspring can
inherit it and survival for the chicks is unlikely.
b) Snowies are not endangered so breeding them in
captivity is not essential to their survival.
The World Owl Trust is dedicated to making the world a better place for owls. They are also in the midst
of changing locations and you can help!
Snowy Owls can live for 25 years or more if kept well and do not make very good pets. They
feed on an excesive amount of dead mice and rats, and need very large aviaries. Care is constant
and messy. That’s why there are organizations such as the World Owl Trust that have all of these
amenities, and you can help by donating, visiting or adopting one of their many amazing owls!
Visit the site for more details.
Check out their website, www.worldowltrust,org for details on how to become a member, where to visit
the owls, the owls for adoption and news about their new aviaries and owl centers.
NEW! Barney Barn Owl is Looking for Adopters!
Our Appeal - Help us with WOT Matters (more
information on our website)
Help us Raise the Funds to Secure the Future of the
World Owl Trust in its new home.
Please Donate!
Tel: (+44) (0)1229 718080 or www.worldowltrust.org

These personalized owls at Fancy Unicorn
Designs make great gifts or a gift to yourself.
There are many different owls, so check out
the shop on etsy!
Little Silver Hedgehog on etsy never dissappoints with
her beautifully made silver owls. These are lovely owl
earrings. A great gift for any owl lover!
Owl About Owls has some really great
owl crafts for home and for wearing.
These stretch bracelets are a very nice
addition to any owl bracelet collection.
FrostedWillow in Boca Raton, FL, makes a lot of
different beautiful bangles such as this owl. You
can mix and match her bangles for a personalized
bracelet collection!
HystericOwl - I just love the name of this company and
they have some really unique owl crafts and jewelry.
This is an amethyst owl in 18k gold plate with crystal
accents and leather chain, on etsy.
Fancyunicorndesigns has so many great pieces
I just can’t list them all! This very unique
bronze colored owl is made from titanium
covered quartz and grey crystal clay. Each piece
is different, so you know you have a one-of-akind!

HelenLea Jewellry Helena creates wonderful
silver animal jewelry and many of them are owls!
Check out her shop if you are looking for fine silver
owl jewelry.
Our Mission
The International Owl Center advances the survival of wild owl populations
through education and research. We plan to accomplish our mission through
biological and cultural programs and displays, green building design, citizenscience
and other research, international exchange of information, the World Owl
Hall of Fame, the International Festival of Owls, and other means.
Spotlight!
On Uhu the Eurasion Egle Owl at
the International Owl Center
Eurasian Eagle Owls are one of the largest owl species on the planet. As
with nearly all owl species, the females are larger than the males, which
makes Uhu a VERY LARGE bird. These birds have a broad range across
Europe and Asia and are the ecological equivalent to the Great Horned
Owl in North and South America.
Uhu was hatched in captivity in the United States in 2011 and worked as
an educational ambassador at a facility in Massachusetts. She came to the International Owl Center after that
facility closed.
Uhu works at the International Owl Center helping to educate people of all ages about the different owl
species there. Her friends are Rusty, Iris, Alice, Ruby and Rupert who also live and work at the Center.
Young Great Horned Owl by
Harry Collins Photography
Come visit the International Owl Center! Located at 126 E. Cedar St. Houston, MN
or visit www.internationalowlcenter.org

The International Owl Center is helping
people as well as owls.
These stories are from the IOC Newsletter,
November, 2015.
PAM GRIFFITH:
Marjon Svelsberg:
“My name is Pam Griffith and I am a special
education teacher in Michigan. I stumbled
upon the International Owl Center live
cameras while attempting to calm an autistic
student during a thunderstorm. I knew that
he loved animals, so it was worth a try.
That little experiment lead to inviting the
owls into our class daily and treating them as
our online class pets. We were able to watch
the owlets grow and observe their habits,
something that supported our curriculum in
many ways.
The best benefit of the site has been the
peace and comfort the owls seem to bring
to our class. Children choose to sit in front
of the screen to watch them when they need
to calm down. They take lap desks and sit in
front of the owls, saying they feel like the owls
help them work.
When we have a few minutes, we ask the
chat moderators questions about owls and
they respond, helping us to learn and making
us feel a part of this whole project. Sharing
Rusty, Iris and their clan with the world has
been a wonderful blessing to our school.”
“I am Marjon Savelsberg and I live in the
Netherlands. Several years ago I had to give
up working as a professional musician and
special needs teacher due to severe healthissues.
I was diagnosed with idiopathic dilated
cardiomyopathy with congestive heartfailure at
the age of 33.
Not having a professional life anymore plus
being diagnosed with something potentially
dangerous was very hard and scary, I felt like
my future had been taken away from me. But
after a while I decided to stop focusing on
being ill, yet instead I felt the need to enjoy
every day to the best of my ability.
Around that time I found the website of
the International Owl Center and I started
watching the Rusty and Iris webcams. It
didn't take long for me to find out that my
trained musical ear was able to recognize all
the hooting owls as individuals and before I
knew it, I was volunteering as a chatroommoderator
and hugely involved in the Center's
vocalization studies.
This year I even got to do a presentation
together with Karla at the Dutch Owl Day
which was so cool and an amazing experience.
I have a mission in life again, I am teaching
people about how fantastic owls are and I am
very passionate about owl-vocalization-studies.
I have to thank the owls and the International
Owl Center for that!”

4-6 March 2016 Houston, Minnesota USA at the
International Owl Center
If you are looking for some Owl Festival fun and
activites for kids and adults, look no further than...
The International Festival of Owls hosted by The
International Owl Center!
Come, Join Us For The Fun Stuff ...
The International Festival of Owls is a great place to have fun learning about owls, whether you're a kid or
just a kid at heart.
... And The Serious Stuff Too !
For the more serious owl aficionados, we have internationally known speakers and we present the annual
World Owl Hall of Fame awards. For a full schedual please visit www.festivalofowls.com.
Festival dei Gufi and Uilendag
What did you say?
Executive Director Karla Bloem gave another presentation this year at the Festival dei Gufi (Festival
of Owls) in Italy in September, comparing Italian and American owl species. This time Hein Bloem also
spoke about previous world owl conferences, since he helped organize the last conference in 2007 in
The Netherlands. The next conference is scheduled to take place in October 2016 in Venaus, Italy.
Owl Photo Contest!
This is the 2013 First place winner:
Erik Bruhnke.
The festival has Live Owls, Owl merchandise, adult
activities and food. A day full of learning all about owls!
International Festival of Owls PO Box 536 Houston, MN
55943 USA 507-896-OWLS (6957)
In making the most out of the overseas trip, Karla and Hein also attended the Landelijke Uilendag (Owl
Day) in The Netherlands. This event brings together all the owl working groups in the country to share
research findings and network.
Chat room moderator and one of the Owl Center's most
serious owl cam observers, Marjon Savelsberg from The
Netherlands, also attended the Uilendag to co-present
research with Karla on the development of juvenile Great
Horned Owl vocalizations. Marjon gave the background
information in Dutch and translated Karla's portion of the
presentation into Dutch.
Article info found on the International Owl Center
Newsletter, Oct 27th 2015.

Hooo Knew?
crazy interesting owl facts
The Great Horned Owl is a very large, powerful owl
with prominent ear-tufts. It was first seen in the Virginia
colonies, so its species name "virginianus" was created from
the Latinised form of this name. Great Horned Owls are
sometimes known as Hoot Owls, Cat Owls or Winged Tigers.
A Great Horned Owl is powerful enough to take prey 2 to 3
times heavier than itself.
info at theowlpages.com
Photo by Jeff Grotte 2015
When threatened, an Eastern Screech Owl will stretch its body
and tighten its feathers in order to look like a branch stub to avoid
detection, but will take flight when it knows it has been detected.
Predators of these Owls include Great Horned Owls, Barred Owls,
Long-eared Owls, Great Gray Owls, Short-eared Owls, Snowy Owls,
mink, weasels, raccoons, skunks, snakes, crows, and Blue Jays.
info at theowlpages.com
Photo by Jeff Grotte 2015
The Saw-whet Owl's name comes from the "skiew" call that is made
when alarmed. This sound has a resemblance to the whetting of a saw.
When the male flies to the nest with food it gives a rapid staccato burst
of toots, and the female responds with a soft "swEE".
info at theowlpages.com
Snowy Owls that live at the World Owl Trust
complients of WOT
Photo by Jeff Grotte 2015

Mushroom- the Spotted African
Eagle Owl
Photo compliments of Baytree
Baytree is one of the most comprehensive collections of Owls and Birds of Prey in the UK, now
incorporating native wildlife to encourage the preservation of our native species, through education at the
center and of course through the Owl Encounters.
Our Owl Encounters are an amazing experience for any owl enthusiast. This encounter gives the
participant a chance to get really “hands on” with a wide variety of different owl species from around the
world.
The session begins with an introduction to Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre and a tour of the aviary
complex, followed by a brief instruction in how to handle the birds. The guests then get to don a glove and
have a go at flying and handling a mixture of the owls from the display team.
Species vary throughout the season but you can guarantee that the recipient will create a memory they
will never forget with this perfect gift for that special person.
The encounters run all year round and have a 6 month validity to the voucher. Please visit our site for
more information on the Owl Encounters, Donation opportunities and Owl Adoptions.
The Baytree Owl and Wildlife Center, run by Mark Birdsall, also had the pleasure of being at the last
International Owl Society Meeting held in the UK. Here are some of the owls that attended, accompanied
by Mark Birdsall.
here
Minerva is a Siberian X Turkmanian Eagle Owl
Kevin is a Gret Gray Owl
here

PUBLIC RELEASE: 29-SEP-2015
Can owls and loggers get along? A
recent study conducted in Primorye in
the southern Russian Far East suggests
it's not only possible, but essential for endangered
Blakiston's fish owls to survive
there. The study was conducted by the
WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society),
the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the
University of Minnesota.
Results showed that the greatest
proportion of suitable fish owl habitat
in a 20,213 km2 [7,804 square mile]
study area was located in lands leased
to logging companies (43 percent). Only
19 percent of such lands (enough for
only eight owl pairs) were protected in
nature reserves. The study, "Blakiston's
fish owl Bubo blakistoni and logging:
applying resource selection information
to endangered species conservation
in Russia," is available free online for a
limited time in the peer-reviewed journal
Bird Conservation International.
While this might sound like a setup
for "Spotted Owl vs Loggers II: Russia
Edition," the relationship between fish
owl advocates and logging companies
in Russia is not nearly as contentious
as the bitter conflict between spotted
owls and loggers in the American Pacific
Northwest in the 1990s.
In fact, one of the biggest logging companies in northeastern
Primorye, OAO Amgu, is already working with biologists to identify
select patches of riverine forest on their lands crucial to the fish owl's
survival: huge trees for nesting, and stretches of river where the owls
can hunt their favored prey: salmon.
In Russia, are loggers an
owl's best friend?
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
Media Contact
Scott Smith
718-220-3698
@TheWCS
http://www.wcs.org and www.eurekalert.org
Image: this is a blakiston's fish owl in primorye,
russia. These massive, endangered owls nest in
cavities of old-growth trees and eat salmon.
Credit: j. Slaght, wcs russia.
"This commitment to fish owl habitat
protection by a logging company is
significant," said Sergei Surmach, an
ornithologist at the Russian Academy of
Sciences and a co-author to the study.
"If OAO Amgu and their parent company,
TerneyLes, protect all fish owl habitat under
their purview," adds the other co-author
and WCS Russia Projects Manager Jonathan
Slaght, "the number of fish owl territories
currently protected in the region would
triple, and result in the protection of nearly
half of all potential fish owl home ranges in
our study area."
Another recommendation the study makes
is for logging companies to close unused
logging roads to reduce disturbance to fish
owls and other wildlife. As reported earlier
in the year, TerneyLes has begun working
with WCS to implement such closures in
the region by destroying key bridges and
erecting dirt barricades to block vehicle
passage. These closures minimize illegal
logging and reduce the risk of humancaused
forest fires, while at the same time
keeping poachers away from wildlife.
"We are always looking for ways to balance
the needs of the economy and endangered
species like fish owls," says Surmach. "And
in this case, everybody wins."
Funding for this study was provided by
the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Disney
Conservation Fund, Amur-Ussuri Centre
for Avian Biodiversity, National Birds of
Prey Trust, Bell Museum of Natural History,
Denver Zoo, Minnesota Zoo Foundation,
and the National Aviary.

Bizarre ritual of owl sacrifice
alive in Delhi
Soumya Pillai, Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Updated: Nov 08, 2015 15:44
IST
Lights, candles and sweets do not complete
Diwali for some. So every year, they set out looking for
an owl. From the rich to the poor, families in extreme
luxury or misery, often end their search at the chaotic
Kabootar Bazaar opposite Red Fort in Old Delhi.
A dealer while negotiating the price of an owl at the Kabootar
Bazaar in Old Delhi on Thursday. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)
A few enquiries later, dealers of exotic birds here
promise a healthy owl, home delivered on Diwali night,
for anything between Rs 6,000 and Rs 15,000. The belief
goes that sacrificing an owl — the vahan (vehicle) of
Goddess Lakshmi — can force her to stay put bringing
wealth and prosperity all year round.
An HT team on Saturday landed at the Kabootar Bazaar looking for a dealer. Though the initial few shops
refused to solicit in our ‘quest’ for a ‘desi ullu’, a few minutes later, we were guided to a shop in the corner
of the market where a middle-aged couple dressed in silk and crisp formals had just sealed the deal for an
adult owl for Rs 14,500.
“The idea behind this ritual of owl sacrifice is to not let the goddess of wealth leave your house. So, on
Diwali night, when Lakshmi ji enters your house, if you sacrifice her vaahan she will stay with you forever,”
a priest standing close to the shop explained.
Snowy Owl Photo
By Larry Medsker
Other Owl Species that need help image from the International Owl Society
When we approached the dealer, he offered to sell us a small owl for Rs 6,000 and the adult one for Rs
15,000. After negotiation, he brought the offer down to Rs 5,000 for the small bird and Rs 14,000 for the
large one. He also offered to sacrifice the owl on our behalf on Diwali night if we paid an additional Rs
10,000.
“It is a banned here and we have to get it from Moradabad,” he told HT, fully aware of the illegality of the
business.
Renowned ornithologist and an expert in owls, Abrar Ahmed said that Delhi is the centre of the trade and
the majority of the birds are supplied from Kanpur, Moradabad, Pilibhit, Lucknow and Nainital. “Nothing is
going to change unless the government decides to save these species,” Ahmed said.
hindustantimes.com

If you are late to the game in knowing about “Legends of the Gaurdians: The Owls of
Ga’Hoole” as I am, here is some great news for owl lovers! If you like owls, Lord of the Rings, adventure, owl
weapons, and a good quest story line, you are going to LOVE this film. The battle of good and evil is the basis
for the poor young Barn Owl, and Tytus (genus name for Barn Owl) as he risks his life to save his brother and
younger sister owls from evil. The cinematography, animation and detail that the creators have in this family
film is incredible, and should be watched in HD if possible.
The animated movie was released in December, 2010 , by Animal Logic and now there is also a graphic novel
for sale
as well. You can find it here.
I have personally taken some pictures of the film as it was playing to give you an idea of how high a level this
movie was created in. Please enjoy and of course, spread the word!
Welcome to Owl Castle by DreamID Graphics - Photoshop Art

Bernadette the Barn Owl
You can read about her here
The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center in Morgan Hill, CA is both an acute
care center for injured and sick wildlife and a nurturing center for orphaned wildlife too young to exist on
their own.
W.E.R.C. operates as a temporary refuge as the organization's goal is not to tame, but to release animals
back into their native habitat healthy, wild, and free.
Wildlife rehabilitation is an evolving science. Due to diverse requirements in care, feeding, handling and
physical therapy, it is a process requiring skill, training, and continuing education.
W.E.R.C., with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, has been recognized as meeting these
requirements.
Owls fighting between good and evil in Legend of the Gardians:
Owls of Ga’hoole

Australia: Aborigines believe bats represent the
souls of men and Owls the souls of women. Owls are
therefore sacred, because your sister is an Owl - and
the Owl is your sister.
Sagitarius Owl by
Redilion on FB
Owl Myth and Lore
aboriginal.artdirectory.com
Arabia: the Owl is a bird of ill omen, the embodiment of evil spirits that carries off children at night.
According to an ancient Arabic treatise, from each female Owl supposedly came two eggs, one held the
power to cause hair fall out and one held the power to restore it.
Arabs used to believe that the spirit of a murdered man continues to wail and weep until his death is
avenged. They believed that a bird that they called "al Sada" (or the death-owl) would continue to hoot over
the grave of a slain man whose death had not been avenged. The bird would continue to hoot endlessly
until the slain man's death was avenged.
China: the Owl is associated with lightning
(because it brightens the night) and with the
drum (because it breaks the silence). Placing
Owl effigies in each corner of the home protect
it against lightning. The Owl is a symbol of Too
much Yang (positive, masculine, bright, active
energy).
fazendoartedmc.blogspot.com

This project is a long-term, worldwide
project to advance foundational
aspects of science and conservation
for the world’s owls.
Lettter from the Editor
As most of you know by now, the Owl Eye is just celebrating it’s launch as an official
owl news, art and informational owl publication. All of the contributors represented in this
magazine gave permission to the Owl Eye to be included here.
Work under this project is focused on seven tasks:
1. Develop scientifically-robust survey & monitoring techniques for the world's owls;
2. Analyze the molecular systematics and phylogeny of owls using basically mtDNA but also ncDNA;
3. Acquire high-quality recordings of owl vocalizations, to assist in species identification & surveys;
4. Compile original descriptions & photographs of extant & fossil owls, & an e-library of
literature on the species;
5. Refine maps of owl species distributions & conduct global owl diversity analyses;
6. Assess Owls in Lore and Culture through interviews &
literature;
7. Distribute project information via internet pages, publications,
and symposia to a very wide audience, including national and
I would like to personally thank all of my contributors: The Global Owl Project, the
International Owl Center, The World Owl Trust, PBS, Baytree Owl and Wildlife, W.E.R.C.,
Owl Research Institute, Media Owls and my photographers: Mike Lentz, Harry Collins,
Travis Carpenter, Larry Medsker, my jewelry artists, FancyUnicorn Designs, Owl about Owls,
HystericOwl, FrostedWillow, Little Silver Hedgehogs and HelenLea, Redilion, My artist
contributors; Jessart Studio, Tiffany Moontrey, Silvia Logi, Michela Bufalini and Wayside
Boutique Art Gallery by Yui and of course, Bryan Banister for thinking that I was the perfect
person to start an owl magazine, because of course, I am.
I hope you enjoy this magazine, it is definitely a project started from my personal interest in
owls, and learning more about them myself. I then thought, what better way to spread all of
the information that I learn than through the media I do best - graphic design. My goal is to
spread the information about the wonderful owl conservationist organizations and showcase
the talented artists that create inspiring craft.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about the magazine or if you
would like to be included as a contributor or advertiser, or if you just want to tell me how
much you enjoyed it.
My Very Best,
Lisa Spiegelman
international biodiversity programs.
David H. Johnson holding baby Burrowing Owls
Feather of a Great Horned Owl and how it flies
silently. Find more info at the Global Owl Project
Oregon.
In the USA, GLOW is partnering with the Northwest Habitat Institute, a non-profit, 501c3 conservation organization
based in Corvallis, Oregon. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Global Owl Project, please click on the donate
button. 100% of all proceeds will go to specific tasks of the Global Owl Project. If you have any questions, please
contact: David H. Johnson, Director-Global Owl Project djowl@aol.com, 202-360-0313 c; or Tom O'Neill, Director-
Northwest Habitat Institute, habitat@nwhi.org, 541-753-2199.
Editor in Chief of the Owl Eye Magazine
dreamofyourid@gmail.com
www.dreamidgraphics.com

Media Owls provides highly tailored brand
building, social media presence and media
exposure campaigns backed by a genuine “noifs-ands-or-buts”
guarantee. Our company
collaborates closely with its clients to develop
creative, sound strategies for gaining critical
media exposure, consumer awareness and
constituent support.
BLUE OWL BREWING
Austin, Texas
‘Tis the Season...
"A Little Owl Called Hooty" from our friends at Swankypants Books
For giving the gift of owls! This is a great new children’s book about a little owl named Hooty, who
when it’s his turn to fly from the nest, gets really scared! Can his friends help him get over his fears
and fly like the great owl he is?
Also available through Amazon.co.uk
blueowlbrewing.com

Olga the Travel Owl in Croatia 2015