The Owl Eye Spring 2016

Owl News All About Owls Owl Art Owl Photos
Vol. 3 - Spring 2016
All Owl News All the Time!
Featured Owl:
The Mysterious
Northern
Saw-Whet
PLUS!
Mike Lentz Facebook
Mike Lentz Photography
All of your Favorite Owl Crafts, Jewelry and Art!
The Owl Eye’s Coverage
on the this year’s International Festival of
Owls at the International Owl Center!
Page 42

photo by Joel Ritter
ABOUT THE OWL
We chose our name and our image because of our love
for owls. The Sulphur Creek Nature Center in Hayward,
California is an organization that does great work in
rehabilitating and releasing owls and other animals. We
were there the night they released four barn owls they
had rescued. It was a fantastic experience, and we were so
impressed by that event and by their work that we agreed
to contribute to their work.
Owl Ridge
Please visit their website to see more details about The
Sulphur Creek Nature Center. We also hope this will
encourage you to become a member.
The owl image we use on our labels was painted by Wendy
Smith from Los Angeles. We think she did a fantastic job on
the great horned owl and got just the look we love.
www.owlridge.com
Letter from the Editor
Welcome to the third publication of the Owl Eye Magazine! I hope that you enjoy all of what the
magazine has to offer and hopefully learn something new about owls in each issue. The mission
of the Owl Eye is to educate a broad audience about owls, with special focus on conservation in
order to help owls live a better life. And I love to bring owl art, photography and crafts to owlloving
people.
This is a special issue because we have included our own first experience at the International
Festival of Owls that occured in March 2016. Although it was mine and Bryan’s first time there it
was most definitely not our last. It is the only all weekend, all owl event in North America! Karla
Bloem at the International Owl Center in Houston, Minnesota has built this festival for over
fourteen years. Her efforts bring in over 2,000 people to this event and has no doubt educated all
of them about owls.
I would like to thank all of my owl conservation organization contributors, my photographers,
jewelers and artists for their amazing work in sharing owl news, helping owls. The more I learn
from my contributors, the more I can’t help but to be inspired by these great birds. Please enjoy
the magazine!
Who Cooks For You?
By Katy Jo Turner
This is a great book for young kids. It is the story of
Howie, the Barred Owl who is tired of finding his
own breakfast and just wants someone else to do
it! His adventures with other animals in the woods
are funny and genuine. The illustrations by Melissa
Marroquin are also fantastic and eye candy for any
aged reader.
To find out more about this book
visit:
www.KatyJoTurner.com/
Lisa Spiegelman
Designer/Editor-in-Chief
Owl Eye Magazine
www.dreamidgraphics.com
www.facebook.com/theowleyemagazine/
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Sections:
Featured Owl: Pages 7-12
Northern Saw-Whet Owl
Owl Book Guide: Page 13
“Wesley the Owl” & “World of
Owls”
Owl Jewelry: Pages 18-21
Great new owl accessories!
Owl Adoptions: Pages 24-25
see WOT it takes to adopt an
owl through the World Owl
Trust
Hoo Knew?: Page 52
Owl Myth & Lore:
Pages 54-55
Celtic, Indian and Inuit
traditional views on owls
Where in the World is Olga?:
Page 56
Follow Olga the Travel Snowy
Owl throughtout the world on
every second to last page of
the Owl Eye. You’ll never guess
where she might be next!
Owls in Tech: Pages 28-29
New owl video game from
Finalnd!
Owl News: Pages 30-35
Long-eared owl research by
Owl Research Institute
Why do Owls bob their heads?
by Autoban
Flint Wildlife Rehabilitation
and Rescue
Owl Art: Pages 36-39
International Festival of
Owls Report Pages 42-51
The Owl Eye’s Account of owl
activities and presentations
at the only full weekend owl
festival in North America
Virgo Owl By Redillion
3

Electric Great Grey Owl in the Winter Photoshop Art by
DreamID Graphics
Photo by Bryan Banister
19/23 October
After eight years of waiting, the World Owl Conference, an important event for all
researchers, naturalists and ornithologists concerned with studying owls, returns. This convention will offer
a chance to meet and collaborate with the most important associative realities: universities, museums and
naturalists who work and study nocturnal birds of prey on field.
The World Owl Conference that
will take place in Venaus is expected to be
a special event, on the one side aiming at
offering to speakers and participants a large
scientific conference, and on the other
side giving them the opportunity to live a
cultural experience of great significance.
4
Venaus is indeed a small locality at the base
of the Alps, but it is deeply connected to
some realities, extremely important, which
are famous and evocative under a historical
and architectural point of view. Meanwhile,
you will get the chance to see and walk
the World’s only path entirely dedicated to
owls, entirely designed in a breath-taking
natural area distinguished by a groundbreaking
project that includes special
structures enabling a night-time guided tour
in the very heart of a wild Alpine wood.

T
H
E
F
E
A
All around Venaus you will be able to see and visit several medieval castles and the fortress of Exilles
(where the mysterious Man in the Mask of Iron, the one who inspired the film starring Leonardo di
Caprio, was reportedly imprisoned). Susa, only five minutes away from Venaus by car, still preserves some
extraordinary, impressive ancient Roman monuments. You will also be able to visit Novalesa’s Abbey, only
three-minute-drive from Venaus. With less than a half-an-hour drive, you will also get the chance to visit
Turin, the coolest Italian city!
This conference is projected to host both the speakers and their families and friends in the most
comfortable way so that nobody will ever get bored! They will be pampered thanks to a differentiated
programme that will enable them to discover a wonderful corner of Italy!
Italy and Venaus with its beauties are waiting for you, and our organization will give you the chance to
discover the best side of our country.
Please visit our site at
www.woc2016.it
T
U
R
E
D
O
W
L
The Stunning and Mysterious
Northern Saw-Whet
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Photos from WOC webiste
Mike Lentz Facebook
Mike Lentz Photography

Northern Saw-Whet
Size: Length 17-21.9cm. Wing length 125-146mm. Tail length 65-73mm. Weight 54-124g. Females are
normally larger than males.
The Northern Saw-whet
Owl is a very small, shortbodied
owl with a relatively
short tail. The overly large
head has no ear tufts and may
appear distorted due to an
asymmetrical skull. European
explorers first discovered
this Owl in a North American
colony called Acadia (now
Nova Scotia). The Latinised
word acadius refers to this
territory. The common name
"Saw-whet" comes from these
Owls unique calls described
below. The Saw-whet Owl is
also called Acadian Owl, Blind
Owl, Kirkland's Owl, the Sawfiler,
the Sawyer, Sparrow Owl,
White-fronted Owl, Farmland
Owl, Little Nightbird, Queen
Charlotte Owl, and even the
Whet-saw Owl. Common
misspellings include "sawwhet"
and "sawhet" owl.
Photo by Jeff Grotte
Habits: Northern Saw-whet Owls are strictly Nocturnal, with activity beginning at late dusk. During the
day, they depend on plumage for camouflage when roosting in foliage, usually close to the ground. When
threatened, a Saw-whet Owl will elongate its body in order to appear like a tree branch or bump, often
bringing one wing around to the front of the body.
Flight is rapid, woodpecker-like, laboured, and undulating.
Voice: The Northern Saw-whet Owl vocalises mostly during the breeding season (usually between March
and May). The primary courtship call is a monotonous, whistled "hoop", emitted at about 1.5 notes per
second which may last for several hours without a break. Territorial calls are series of short clear notes.
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".
Mortality: Captive Owls have lived for over 10 years, but mortality in the wild is likely relatively high.
They compete with Boreal Owls, starlings, and squirrels for nest cavities, and are preyed upon by larger
Owls, martens, Cooper's Hawks, and Northern Goshawks.
Description: The facial disc is brownish with a whitish zone around the eyes, forming radial
white streaks towards the edge of the disc, and with a blackish spot between the base of the
bill and the orange-yellow eyes. The bill and cere are blackish. The disc does not have a dark
rim but does have a narrow edge of light and dark spots. The rest of the head is warm rustybrown
or grey-brown, and densely covered with white shaft-streaks, especially on the forehead.
The mantle and the rest of the upperparts are rusty brown with white spots. Flight feathers are
spotted white. The relatively short tail normally has three rows of white spots on both webs of
the rectrices.
Lower parts are whitish with broad reddish-buff streaks. Toes are slightly feathered with
dark horn claws with blackish tips. Juveniles of this species are chocolate-brown above with
underparts pale brownish or cinnamon-buff. The eyebrows, forehead and lores are white,
forming a pale "X" on the dark face.
For more info please visit www.owlpages.com
Mike Lentz Facebook
Mike Lentz Photography
9

Photo by Jeff Grotte
Hunting & Food: These Owls hunt mainly at dusk and dawn and most often use the "sit and wait" tactic
to drop down onto prey on the ground from low hunting perches. They will also range through wooded
areas and hunt in heavy shrub cover. When prey is plentiful, a Saw-whet Owl will kill as many as 6 mice in
rapid succession, without consuming any of them. The excess food is cached in safe places and, in winter, is
thawed out later by "brooding" the frozen carcass. When food is plentiful, it is common for only the head of
each prey to be eaten.
Northern Saw-whet Owls feed almost entirely on small mammals, Deer mice being the primary prey,
followed by shrews and voles. Other mammals include squirrels, moles, bats, flying squirrels, and house mice.
Small birds are sometimes taken and include swallows, sparrows, chickadees, and kinglets. Larger birds such
as Northern Cardinal and Rock Dove can be killed by one of these small Owls. Frogs and insects are also
part of their diet. Pellets are very small and dark grey, about 1.9cm by 1.3cm and are ejected with great
difficulty, usually with a great deal of twisting of the body and head.
Breeding: Because of their nomadic nature it is unlikely that pair bonds are permanent or that birds
often return to the same nest site. Males sing their territorial song mainly in late-March and April. After a
female has been attracted to a male by his song, he will fly in circles above her while calling, or he will take
her directly to the nest site he has located (again, while calling). The male then lands near her and begins a
complex series of bobbing and shuffling as he inches towards her. Often, the male has a mouse in its bill and
offers it to the female.
Northern Saw-whet Owls nest in old woodpecker cavities, (primarily those made by Pileated Woodpeckers
or Northern Flickers) or in natural cavities. They will also take to nest boxes quite readily. Nest trees are
often dead and nest heights average 4 to 6 metres above ground. Nesting occurs between March and July.
Clutch sizes range from 3 to 7 eggs (average 5-6) laid at periods of 1 to 3 days, but usually 2. Eggs average
30x25 mm. The female does all incubation and the male brings food to her and defends the nesting area. The
incubation period is 21 to 28 days. Young fledge at 4 to 5 weeks, and may leave the nest individually every 1
to 2 days, until they have all left. The young owls are cared for by the parents for some weeks after they leave
the nest. Sexual maturity is reached at 9-10 months old. A pair will raise a single brood; in years when food is
abundant, they will nest slightly earlier in the season.
Habitat: Northern Saw-whet Owls inhabit coniferous and deciduous forests, with thickets of secondgrowth
or shrubs. They occur mainly in forests with deciduous trees, where woodpeckers create cavities for
nest sites. Breeding habitat is usually swampy or wet, rather than dry. Riparian habitat is often preferred.
Distribution: North America - Breeds from south-eastern Alaska, central British Columbia, including
the Queen Charlotte Islands, central Alberta, central Saskatchewan, central Manitoba, central Ontario,
southern Quebec, northern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, south to the mountains
of southern California to southern New Mexico, locally in western South Dakota and western Minnesota,
northern Illinois, southern Michigan, central Ohio, West Virginia, western Maryland, and New York; also
breeds locally in the mountains of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.
10 www.owlpages.com
11

They Winter generally throughout much of the breeding range, but part of the population migrates south
regularly to the central United States and irregularly to more southern areas along the Gulf coast and
central Florida.
The Northern Saw-whet Owl is highly migratory in northern and eastern areas. Two major migration
corridors in eastern North America are along the Atlantic coastline and down the Ohio River valley.
Juveniles are more likely to migrate than adults and tend to move further south. Migration in the fall often
occurs during the passage of a cold front and during westerly winds. Southern populations move down
slope during winter rather than migrating south.
The Northern Saw-whet Owl is also found in Mexico.
On Valentine’s Day 1985, biologist Stacey O’Brien first met a
four-day-old baby barn owl -- a fateful encounter that would
turn into an astonishing 19-year saga. With nerve damage in one
wing, the owlet’s ability to fly was forever compromised, and
he had no hope of surviving on his own in the wild. O’Brien, a
young assistant in the owl laboratory at Caltech, was immediately
smitten, promising to care for the helpless owlet and give him a
permanent home. Wesley the Owl is the funny, poignant story of
their dramatic two decades together.
OWLS
This book is an amazing read. You will laugh, cry and fall in love
with Wesley! A great book for any owl fan or anyone who wants
to learn more about the care involved in taking care of an owl.
You can find it on Amazon.
Wesley The Owl on Amazon
Owl Reference
References:
Boyer and Hume. 1991. "Owls of the World". BookSales Inc
Campbell, Wayne. 1994. "Know Your Owls". Axia Wildlife
Heintzelman, Donald S. 1984. "Guide to Owl Watching in North America". Dover Publications
König, Claus & Weick, Friedhelm. 2008. "Owls: A Guide to the Owls of the World (Second Edition)". Yale University Press
König, Weick and Becking. 1999. "Owls: A Guide to the Owls of the World". Yale University Press
Long, Kim. 1998. "Owls: A Wildlife Handbook". Johnson Books
Mikkola, Heimo. 2012. "Owls of the World: A Photographic Guide". Bloomsbury
Page Information:
Page compiled by Deane Lewis. Page last updated 2015-02-21
If you are interested in learning more about owls and
how to identify them, this is a great book. Owls of the
World includes useful and fun tips about owls in general,
great photographs, and then lists the owl by genus and
species so you can get a deeper insight into individual
owl species. This is also a very useful book if you are into
owl photography, since identifying your owls is essential
to a great photograph.
Owls of the World on Amazon
OwlPages.com Owl Species ID: 230.020.000

This project is a long-term,
worldwide project to advance
foundational aspects of science
and conservation for the world’s
owls.
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;
Photos By GOP
Also, Join W.E.R.C. on the 4th of July as we roll
through Downtown Morgan Hill in the Annual
Freedom Fest Parade! You and a guest will sit with
Volunteers and our Educational Ambassadors as
we celebrate the quintessential American Holiday.
This unique opportunity will give you a bird's eye
view of the thousands of spectators who come to
town for the festivities. You may think the parade
is main attraction, but wait until you see the
crowd!
www.werc-ca.org
14
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 international biodiversity
programs.
www.globalowlproject.com
n 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.

Whispering Peaks Photography
Doug Ersson-Hammerberg is a Wildlife and landscape
photographer specializing in capturing the emotion and
beauty of the world surrounding us. He keeps the wild in
wildlife. His photos capture the wildlife and landscapes as
they are, natural. Not baited or enhanced.
Doug has a great line of nature and owl products featuring
his own photography and prints. Here are some of those
products, enjoy owl lovers!
Northern Pygmy Owl T-shirt for
Woman, also comes in Men’s sizes.
cafepressowltshirt
Tea Owl Mug/White
CafePressmug
Northern Pygmy Owl by
Whispering Peaks Photography
The International Owl Society
A tiny but fierce Northern
Pygmy Owl stares with a
hunter's eyes from a branch
on a Montana's winter day.
cafePressmessangerbag
The UK based society was formed in 1996 and was intended as
a worldwide forum for anyone with an interested in Owls, from
those who simply like Owls and who may wish to support Owl
conservation work through the societies conservation projects
to those who are considered to be serious keepers & breeders of
these remarkable birds as such membership is open equally to all
Owl enthusiasts, keepers and breeders as well as the scientific and
zoological communities.
We hold two meetings each year (Spring & Autumn) which
includes our A.G.M to which all members and those with an
interest in joining the society are welcome. The Society also has a
great newsletter called “Tyto” for Members that includes scientific
owl studies around the world and other interesting owl facts and
news.
Photo By Mark Whittaker
Fat Wagtail Photography
Cute Northern Pygmy Owl Keychain
cafePressowlkeychain
Visit Whispering Peaks
Photography on Facebook!
Please visit The International Owl Society at
www.international-owl-society.com
17

Gorgeous hand painted Owl Necklace
with Swarovski Accent Beads. Looks
really nice with other owl necklaces
as well for a layered look, by Tanya at
FancyUnicornDesigns.
FancyUnicronDesigns
FancyUnicornDesigns
Festive Owl Hair Clip!
Show some owl flair
at festivals or any
occasion calling for owl
enhancement, which are
all occasions, of course.
One of a Kind.
FancyUnicornDesings
Beautifully made Sterling
Silver Owl with sulphur
patina finish. Hand cut
with jewelers saw.
Robyn Cornelius
Hand painted Owl Cameo
Pendant Watercolor by the
talented Hystericowl
Check out this necklace and other
owl related items on her site.

Stunning handmade Sterling silver owl and moonstone pendant with owl carved out on the back. Truly
amazing work. Mirirel Designs etsy
OWL RING WITH SAPPHIRE EYES
Designed by jewelry maker Elina Gleizer, this gorgeous ring subtly represents the ancient wisdom of the
owl symbol without coming across as elementary in the design. Its strength is its simplicity. The thick
sterling silver wraps comfortably around the wearers finger with the owl’s face looking out to the world
beyond. Although it is crafted from sterling silver, the ring is extremely light and can easily be worn on a
daily basis.
Hand carved and crafted from the finest 925 silver, this ring is more than just a fashion statement. It is a
work of art in its own right.

The Trust’s female Turkmenian Eagle Owl seems to be spending an increasing amount of time
testing out the nest box now and glowering at everyone who goes anywhere near. Hopefully they will
breed successfully as this species which is a sub species of the Eurasian Eagle Owl, is generally thought to
be extinct in its original Turkmenistan range but still present in parts of Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
The World Owl Centre and Owl Collection
The World Owl Trust has closed it's World Owl Centre in Cumbria and are relocating it to a new site
in the West Midlands. The ground work has already started at the new site and the architect’s plans are
being finalised. We are looking forward to formally announcing further details very shortly.
WOT has the largest collection of owls in the world and we are currently relocating the collection to
temporary accommodation in various locations throughout the UK until the new World Owl Centre
opens.
A selection of our owl collection is on public display at the locations below where visitors, members
and adopters will still be able to view a selection of the collection owls.
We will be updating this page with other venues when the sections containing the owls are opened to
the public. So if you fancy a day out why not call in and say hello.
Help Us with WOT Matters!
Help us to raise funds for the new
WOT location, and secure a place
for all of our owls!
Please donate at:
www.owls.org
Opposite Page: Clearing of the land has been started for the new location of the World Owl Trust!
Follow us on Facebook for updates: www.facebook.com/world-owl-trust/
23

Owl Adoption
World Owl Trust
24
The Owl Eye Magazine
has adopted Barney the Barn Owl at the World Owl Trust. We really
believe in what WOT is doing for owls and making the world a better
place for them. Adopting Barney entails helping to feed him for a year,
and many people can adopt the same owl. Barn Owl diet consitis of
mainly mice, which contain all the nutrients that the owl needs. Barn
owls are used for rodent control by many farms and places with a
rodent population issue.
We are super excited here at the Eye to be a part of owl
conservation and to be helping a great organization such as the
World Owl Trust.
Find Out more at:
www.owls.org
The Owl Eye is also happy to announce
that one of the Southern White-Faced
owls was given to us as an adoption gift by
Debra Bansiter. We are very excited to
have two owls in our care from WOT and
will report on our official visit to WOT in
the Spring.
The Southern White-Faced Owl is found
South of the Sahara in Africa. It is only
absent from Zaire and Cameroon and some
of the Southern Cape. It is considered one
of the most beautiful owls with it’s striking
white face and beautiful orange eyes. It
enjoys perching on thorny trees in the
Savannah of Africa and it loves to feed on
rodents, birds, insects and scorpions. It is
also considered a small owl.
Photo courtesy of WOT

26
Northern Saw Whet Owl
Photo By: Jeff Grotte

Owls In Tech
Moonbay is the secret realm of the owls, hidden deep inside the moonlit
Taiga. This is where your adventure takes place. You will learn to hunt and reproduce to help
the survival of your species. Moonbay is rich with breathtaking landscapes. As you expand your
territory you'll find more and more exciting places and animals. The magic crystals have cast
an endless full moon night upon the area. They are plentyful in the Crystal Cave and can be
collected and used to unlock more possibilities during your quest to survive.
Owl Invasion is a new mobile game that combines the magic of owls and retro gaming
into an experience that can be enjoyed by everyone. The game controls are simple touch events and
easy to master. All you have to do is download the app and start enjoying the challenges of nighttime
nature through the eyes of the owls.
The main character in the game is Torpedo Owl. It is based on the menacing Northern Hawk Owl
from Finland and is famous for its wingless flight style which it has taught to all other owl species in
the game as well.
Look for Owl Invasion upadates by Jani Ylikangas on the Torpedo Owl Facebook Page.
29

30 Years of Owl Research shows Species
on the Decline
By Melynda Harrison 8:04 p.m. MST January 27, 2016
MISSOULA — Denver Holt of the Owl Research Institute (ORI) pulls his Suburban over to the side
of a snow-packed dirt road outside of Missoula. He and researcher, Matt Larson, and volunteer, Andrea
Darling, hop out of the rig and step carefully over a barbed wire fence. They have the landowner’s permission
to poke around in the adjacent large willow thicket to look for owls.
Larson and Darling flank the thicket, eyes keen for camouflaged birds. To a casual observer, there doesn’t
seem to be anything alive in these woods, but a pole topped with a camera mount proves that owls
have been here.
The webcam belongs to Explore.org and is trained on last year’s long-eared owl nest. Holt worked
with the Annenberg Foundation to bring six fluffy owlets and their parents to the computer screens
of hundreds of thousands of people. The owl cam will go live again in March when owls will be raising
chicks.
On this 15-degree day, the sky is socked-in with the inversion layer Missoula is famous for. Despite the
white on white land and sky, and the willow thicket-colored birds, the owl folks spot several long-eared
owls. They are not yet in the nesting phase, but they are present.
Holt fell into owl research while working on a wildlife degree at The University of Montana. A friend
found an owl nest north of the university in the Rattlesnake area. Holt and another friend started
keeping an eye on the nest.
30
(Photo: Courtesy of Henry
Harrison)
Denver Holt holds onto a long-eared owl. Holt
started the Owl Research Institute and became an
independent researcher in part because of his strong
belief in the importance of field work and long-term
studies. (Photo: Courtesy of Melynda Harrison)

There weren’t a lot of owl researchers, then or now,” Holt said. “We skipped classes, monitored the nest, and
published two papers.”
“I started out saying, ‘I think I’ll study these guys and now we have the longest long-eared owl study.”
This year the ORI researchers are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their long-eared owl study, the longest
running, year-round research project on this species in North America. It’s also the 25th anniversary of
their snowy owl study, the longest running breeding study in North America, and the second longest in
the world. Holt and Larson, and in the past other researchers, spend over a month in Barrow, Alaska each
summer, monitoring snowy owl chicks for up to 14 hours a day.
ORI has banded over 1,800 individual long-eared owls and found over 220 nests during the course of
the study. The original question was whether the communal breeding roosts were made up of related
individuals. They aren’t. “In fact,” Holt said, “It is very rare to find any related individuals.” And while they
find owls roosting on the same branches from year to year, it’s different owls each time.
From that first question, sprang many others. ORI looked at clutch size, hatching success, fledgling success,
food habits, nest site characteristics, molt, and migration. They’ve done DNA and other molecular studies.
They’ve quantified stress hormones, allowing them to evaluate the research impact on the owls. Holt and
others at the ORI have published nearly 100 scientific papers based on their research.
Long-term monitoring projects are important, according to Larson, because they allow researchers to see
real trends.
“If you take five years here and five years there, you can get really different stories,” Larson said. “Over 10
years, it’s another story. There isn’t an end story, it’s constantly changing.”
“Some of the best data we have on birds comes from long-term studies,” Holt said. “Things like the Christmas
Bird Count, hunter waterfowl harvest data, and breeding surveys.”
What they know, based on the studies, is that both long-eared owl and snowy owl populations are declining
in their study areas. What they don’t know is why.
“Everyone blames development for the decline in long-eared owls, but their habitat is expanding in the Mission
Valley and numbers are still going down.”
After identifying that there are owls in the willows, the ORI crew sets up two nets, stretching almost the
width of the thicket and about eight feet high, specially designed for safely catching birds. Larson stands quietly
in the bushes near the nets while Holt and Darling circle the thicket and try to flush the owls into the
nets.
The state of Montana claims 14 species of owls — more than any other state. Eleven species breed in the
Mission Valley, where ORI is located adjacent to the Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge.
In addition to the long-eared and snowy owl projects, ORI is busy with eight other research studies. Research
isn’t the only thing staff members do. ORI staff host adult and children’s education events, take people
into the field through Holt’s Wild Planet Nature Tours and Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, visit classrooms,
speak at conservation events, and collaborate with federal, state, and local groups to facilitate wildlife and
habitat protection.
On the first attempt to catch owls in the net, three long-eared owls fly right into it. Larson quickly and gently
removes them from the net and passes them around until each person is holding an owl.
Named after its prominent “ear” tufts — really feathers to aid in camouflage — the long-eared owl is medium-sized
and looks like a slimmer version of a great horned owl.
Larson checks for bird bands (tiny metal bracelets on the owls’ legs with an identification number), measures
wing length, weighs the birds, approximates their ages, and enters all the information into a field notebook.
The three owls are already banded, and the group recognizes the largest female as one they have captured a
couple times previous.
After all the owl measurements are taken and entered, the owls are quietly released back into the willows.
They fly to a perch and take up right where they left off before they were interrupted.
Andrea Darling, Matt Larson,
and Denver Holt of the
Owl Research Institute hold
long-eared owls ready for
measuring. (Photo: Melynda
Harrison)
The original and full article is found at:
www.greatfallstribune.com and not written
by Owl Eye Magazine, but by Melynda
Harrison at (http://travelingmel.com/)
Learn more about this project at
the Owl Research Insitute:
www.owlinstitute.org

Autoban
Why Do Owls
Bob Their Heads?
Spotted Owlet. Original Video:
Rathika Ramasamy
Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education
Habitat and Species Conservation
1521 S. Linn White Drive Chicago, Illinois 60605
Here's the secret behind the head-turning phenomenon.
This story is brought to you by BirdNote,
a show that airs daily on public radio
stations nationwide. This story aired
January 20th, 2016.
Written by: Bob Sundstrom
For this article go to
autoban.org
Trill, The Eastern
Screech Owl
Article By Lisa Spiegelman
If you were to stand face
to face with an owl, after a
while it would start to move
its head, bobbing rhythmically
from side to side, then forward,
then back. Or almost completely
upside down. All while still
looking at you, with its body still
facing the front.
Is the owl trying to communicate
something? Is this, perhaps,
some kind of dance?
All these varied head
movements help the owl judge
the position and distance of
things around it—essentially,
to triangulate on objects,
including potential prey, and to
build a composite picture of its
surroundings.
This head-bobbing helps
make up for an anatomical
limitation: An owl’s eyes are fixed in
position, so they simply can’t
move the way our eyes do. To
look up, down, or to the side,
an owl has to move its head.
They have very flexible necks
and can do 270 degrees of a
full head turn, looking over
one shoulder, around the back,
and almost over the opposite
shoulder. And after a few of
these head-bobs to triangulate
on their prey, they rarely miss.
It’s not only owls that measure
the world this way. Most other
birds of prey, like falcons and
hawks, have the same intent,
fixed, predator’s eyes, and so
they, too, perform their share
of head bobs, figuring out
what’s what and what’s where.
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New
York. Great Gray Owl recorded by Sture Palmer; recorded by L J Peyton; ambient sound from Great Gray Owl
recorded by D S Herr.
BirdNote’s theme music was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
Producer: John Kessler
To download this podcast, go to birdnote.org. Executive Producer: Dominic Black
I had the great pleasure of
meeting two owls, Trill, pictured
above, an Eastern Screech Owl and
Justice, below, a Great Horned Owl
on February 20th at the Flint Creek
Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in
Chicago, Polar Adventure Days. They
are two embassador birds from Flint
and do education programs in schools
and other events.
Flint Creek does amazing work for
owls and other birds of prey by
rescuing injured animals, caring for
them, and releasing them into the
wild if possible. They have extensive
educational programs, including a
Raptor Internship - where you can
be involved with learning about and
caring for owls.
You can read more about Flint Creek and
their events at:
www.flintcreekwildlife.org and of course
follow them on Facebook
Justice, the Great Horned Owl
35

Owl Art
Silvia Logi does it again
with her super awesome
owl designs! This “Ruffled
Owl” is certainly a great
addition to any owl art
collection. These pieces are
all handmade by Silvia in
Italy.
Silvia Logi Artworks on
Facebook
“Hide and Seek” is the title
of this painting of a Barred
Owl by Jessie Fries of the
Art Shoppe Jessart Studio
in Massachusetts. We at the
Owl Eye love all of her work
and hope someday to visit
her real life shop. Check out
her Facebook Page.
36 37

Michela Bufalini’s Pebble Art Owls are super cute and would
make any home more owly. She has many different designs
on her Facebook Page as well as different animals, but of
coures, the owls are the best.
38
Short - Eared Owl by Tiffany Moontrey, see her amazing works here on her Facebook Page
HystericOwl makes really great jewelry and owl crafts that are perfect for any owl lover! Check
out her Facebook Page. HystericOwl
39

“I put a lot of work into him,” said Mark. “He was going to be a massive part of the
display, but all this has gone to pot. We are all gutted and shocked that this has happened. He was bred
here, his mum and dad live here.”
Mark says it appears someone climbed over a fence before breaking into the owl centre and then into
Kevin’s aviary.
He said the owl wasn’t tethered and would
have “made all sorts of noise and gone flying
all over the place” when snatched.
Mark says whoever took Kevin won’t
be able to sell him or breed from him
because they won’t have the legal
paperwork.
Police probe theft of Kevin the owl from
Baytree at Weston
10:00 Saturday 20 February 2016
Devastated bosses at Baytree Owl and Wildlife
Centre are pleading for the safe return of a
Great Grey owl called Kevin after he was stolen
in a break-in.
He said it is uncommon for Great Grey
owls to be bred in captivity in the UK –
there are only ten-12 breeding pairs here
– as the owls are found in colder places in
North America and Europe.
Great Grey owls have a wingspan of
around 5ft but are described as “mostly
fluff” as they weigh only two to
three pounds.
• Anyone with information should call police
on 101.
For more informationon this article, please go
to spauldingtoday.co.uk
The eight-year-old bird was due to be the star of
the Weston centre’s upcoming flying displays, but
those plans lay in tatters when the burglary was
discovered on Tuesday morning.
Owl centre manager Mark Birdsall was off work,
celebrating the birth on Friday of his second son, Bobby, but news of the break-in saw him back at Weston.
Mark describes Kevin as an “iconic” owl because he was so popular with visitors, many of whom had their
photographs taken with him.
Kevin hasn’t featured in flying displays before but Mark spent five months training him and was looking
forward to him taking a starring role in flight from Easter through to the last week in September.
41

The International
Festival of
Owls
An Owl Eye Magazine Exclusive
Article By Lisa Spiegelman
42
What better way to spend a weekend in March
in the Midwest than to go to the International
Festival of Owls in Houton, Minnesota! Well,
that’s what we did here at the Owl Eye. It was
an event that couldn’t have been held anywhere
else thanks to Karla Bloem of the International
Owl Center in Houston and all of the 936
people that live there.
We arrived Friday night to Lokan’s Sawmill and
Suites, to our Queen Suite; with full kitchen,
door to the bedroom and small living area. It
was perfect. After a good night’s rest, Saturday
am brought all kinds of owl activities!
I couldn’t wait to say Hello to Hooston! The
Mascot of the IFO.
First up: 9:30am: The Illinois Raptor Center:
Rescue, Research and Technology. Jacques Nuzzo
spoke about how they at the IRC rescue owls
and other birda of prey; his love of tree-climbing
and equipment, and his passion for utilizing
drone technology to help track owls and their
breeding activity. They also brought with them
two Snowy Owls, two Great Grey Owls and
two Eastern Screech Owls.
Photo with Hooston By
Bryan Banister

Pascal and Stroeken with Little Owls, International
Festival of Owls.
After the Illinois
Raptor Center
presentation we
took a walk around
the winding halls of
Houston High School,
where the main events
of the IFO were held,
and the owl vendors
were situated..
For more info go to:
www. beleefdelente.nl
Eastern Screech Owl, Grey Morph, Illinois Raptor
Center
Photo: Bryan Banister
I didn’t wonder too long, however
because next up at 11:00am were
Ronald van Harxen and Pascal
Stroeken from the Netherlands
talking about how they are helping
Little Owls in their region. Harxen
and Pascal help by building nest
boxes and protecting the Little Owls
from predators so they can increase
their population and also study the
Little Owls behavior. Pascal and
Harxen also received the Special
Acheivement Award for their 30
years of studying and helping Little
Owls at the International Festival of
Owls Banquet.
Great Horned Owl, Illinois Raptor Center,
Photo: Bryan Banister
45

Barn Owl from IRC (Above) Photo: Bryan Banister
Eastern Screech Owl, Red Morph, IRC, Photo: Bryan
Banister
Lunch time brought us to JT’s Bar and
Grill. The Fetival did supply a lunch at the High
School, but we decided to go out to the town of
Houston and see other places. JT’s was packed
with owl lovers (you can tell by the bright green
entry stickers on their jackets, and by the way
they were discussing the day’s owl events) and
with a variety of mounted animals on the wall,
but the one and only owl was a painting. Many
people were dressed in hunting jackets. The
fare consisted of burgers, specialty burgers and
sandwiches, and a salad bar. The bartender and
one waitress seemed to be pretty busy with the
Festival goers and estimated a 45 minute wait for
a cheeseburger, so I crossed the street and paid
a visit to the International Owl Center, run by
Karla Bloem and her staff.
The Center was teeming with adults and
childresn alike. I could see that it would be
difficult to get a good look at all of the owl items
in the store including jewelery, T-shirts, books,
magnets, bags, scarves, plush toys, puzzles, games,
you name it! And of course, being the editor of
the Owl Eye and loving all things owl, I wanted
to have some time to enjoy this wonderful place
filled with owl gifts.
In the back of the Center is where the education
birds, Iris, the Great Horned Owl, Ruby and
Rupert (sibling Great Horned Owls) Uhu
the Eurasian Eagle Owl ( a very big owl) were
perched in large cubicles greeting all of the
Festival guests. At this point I could hardly get
in to get a good look, but snapped a few iPone
pictures just the same. I would wait for my
photographer, Bryan Banister, and I to get a
better look the next day on Sunday.
Lunch had arrived ( in less than the 45 minute
estimate) and I scurried back to JT’s to enjoy my
California Burger.
3:00 PM brought us back to the gynamsium of Houston High to catch the next presentation from
Illinois Raptor Center. This time they discussed tree-climbing in more detail and their work related to
rescuing young owls and renesting them. The most interesting tidbit that was shared was that some
baby owlets were found and four days later put back into their nest. This was an unusual timeline
because most owl moms will consider the owlets dead after that many days, but this owl mom came
back to the previously abandonded nest after the four day period to continue to take care of her
rescued owlets.
IRC then brought out a Barn Owl (left), Barred Owl (center) and the Eastern Screech both red and
grey morphs (below, left).
47

The International Festival
of Owls Banquet & Award
Ceremony
Ronald van Harxen and Pascal Stroeken
founders of the Dutch Little Owl Working Group.
(Netherlands) Special Achievement Award.
Jim Duncan Director of the Wildlife Branch of
Manitoba Conservation (Canada)
Lady Gray’l Award
Professor Pertti Saurola head of the Finnish Bird
Ringing (banding) Center and president of the European
Union for Bird Ringing (Finland)
Champion of Owls Award
Jim Warren Executive Director of the Carolina Raptor
Center (North Carolina) Lady Gray’l Award
Friedhelm Weick professional illustrator and author
(Germany) Special Achievement Award not
attending
Dudley, recipiant of the Lady Gray’s
Award, Photo : Russ Gavitt
The other Lady Gray’l Award wining owl was
Nemo, a Long - Eared Owl who worked along
side Jim Duncan in Manitoba, Canada. Together
for 10 years Jim and Nemo educated thousands
of students, retirees, new immigrants, Indigenous
First Nations, and Hutterite colonies. He has
raised over $50,000 for graduate students and
for owl consercation efforts. Nemo has also
recently passed and will always be remembered
by his fans and especially by Jim.
We then had the pleasure of attending the Award Banquet where Ronald van Harxen, Pascal Stroeken,
(Special Achievement Awards) Jim Duncan, ( Lady Gray’l Award) Professor Pertti Saurola, (Champion
of Owls Award) Jim Warren (Lady Gray’l Award) and Friedhelm Weick (absentee, Special Achievement
Award) were presented with their awards.
It was amazing to hear about the owls that were part of the award presentations. Dudley, a Great
Horned Owl (Lady Gray’l Award - presented to owls) who touched the lives of many people inclding
some inmates, dedicated his life to education and outreach programs. With the help of Jim Warren in
North Carolina, he and Dudley worked together for 28 years until Dudley’s passing at age 30. He was
an exceptional bird and will be remembered by many people.
Ruby the Great Horned Owl at the
International Owl Center Photo:
Bryan Banister
Jim and Nemo
49

The end of the Banquet held a great surprise - after a detailed presentation from Professor Pertti Saurola
on his 50 years of work with Ural Owls, a very beautiful owl, Karla cajoled him to share with us another
of his talents. Apparently, Pertti was also a professional singer and toured the world with a choral group.
He sang for us two lovely songs, one in English and one in his native Finnish.
Uhu the Eurasian Eagle Owl
Photo: Bryan Banister
Sunday, the last day of the Festival, was a relatively short day due to the fact that we had to drive back
to Chicago. Nevertheless, I found many last minute activites to do such as take another look at the
vendors that perhaps I had missed. And I did miss a few! One great find was Katy Jo Turner, who wrote
the book, “Who Cooks for You?” a children’s book about Howie the Barred Owl and his adventures in
finding his breakfast. Illustrated by Melissa Marroquin, this beautiful book also includes not only a great
story line, but facts about Barred Owls. Katy Jo was formerly an environmental educator, this being
the reason for all of her included facts. I enjoyed talking to Katy Jo and unsurprisingly bought a copy of
“Who Cooks for You” and had it signed. Vist www.katyjoturner.com for more information on this book.
We also found time to visit the International Owl Center one more time
since lunch the previous day. Sunday was much less crowded, as I hoped,
and we were able to browse around the shop (you’ve never seen so many
owl things!) and also visit with Ruby, Rubert and Uhu - two Great Horned
Owls and the Eurasian Eagle Owl respectively. The Eurasian Eagle Owl is
one of the largest owl species and has beautiful orange eyes and orangeybrown
feathers. She is also huge and very gentle. The Center did not do
their usualy programs that day with the owls, but I was told that Uhu
does a flying performance during the regular presentation. Maybe we will
be able to see this one day. The Center also had some really interesting
exhibits like many taxidermied owls of different species along the wall.
If you have never seen some of these owls in real life, seeing what they
actually look like is pretty amazing. Also, there was a map of how “owl”
was said in different languages all over the world. I thought that was pretty interesting as well.
Photo Credits this page: Lisa Spiegelman
Wrapping it Up...
All in all I would say that a visit to the International Festival of Owls is a must do for any owl fan or
afficianado. I myself loved learning all about owls and being around others that feel the same way
was quite a treat. I think all too often we feel that because of our interests and passions that we are
separate or different from others, but a visit such as this makes you realize that that is not right at all.
Our interests make us come together and share our information and stories - about owls - and the
greatness that they teach us as well.

Hoo Knew?
Crazy Interesting Owl Facts
Elf Owl
Many owls are very big, but some are also very small as
well. The smallest owl is the Elf Owl, only standing 14
cm tall which is about the size of a soda can! They live in
deserts and feed on scorpions.
info from The Owl Research Institute
www.owlinstitute.org
pbase.com
“Hoo” Haven Wildlife &
Education Center
March was a great month for the Owl
Eye. Not only did we get to go to the International
Festival of Owls, but we also got to go see “Hoo”
Haven at Starved Rock Lodge, near Chicago! They
talked about Houdini, their rescued Snowy Owl,
(right) Kenyetta the Barred Owl (lower right) and
Casper the Barn Owl (below).
The Barred Owl is a highly vocal Owl giving a loud and
resounding "hoo, hoo, too-HOO; hoo, hoo, too-HOO,
ooo" which is often phrased as "Who, cooks, for-you?
Who, cooks, for-you, all?" - The last syllable drops off
noticeably. Like some other Owl species, they will call
in the daytime as well as at night. The calls are often
heard in a series of eight, then silence, when the Owl
listens for a reply from other Owls.
info from www.owlpages.com
Mike Lentz Facebook
Mike Lentz Photography
Owls have been found in the fossil record up to 58 million years
ago. The largest recorded owl fossil, Orinmegalonyx oteroi, stood
about three feet tall. (birding.about.com)
The Cuban giant owl or giant cursorial owl (Ornimegalonyx) is
an extinct genus of giant owl that measured 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in)
in height. It is closely related to the many species of living owls of
the genus Strix.[2] It was a flightless or nearly flightless bird and it
is believed to be the largest owl that ever existed. It lived on the
island of Cuba. (en.wikipedia.org)
photo: en.wikipedia.org
52
All photos on this page by Bryan Banister
“Hoo” Haven does a lot for rescuing injured
animals including rehabilitaion and re-release. They
also do a lot of educational programs about owls
and other animlas as well. If you are interested in
having them and seeing one of their wonderful
programs please call (815) 629-2212. or email
Karen at karen@hoohaven.org.
Their website is at:
www.hoohaven.org
“Hoo” Haven is dedicated to rehabilitating and releasing, sick, injured and orphaned, North American
Wildlife. And to educating individuals to the importance of the conservation of Mother Earth, to
maintain the land, clean and beautiful for all.
Mission Statement
53

Owl Myth and Lore
India
The Barn owl is the "vahana" (transport/vehicle/mount)
of the Hindu goddess of wisdom, Lakshmi. As such, the
owl is held as a symbol of wisdom and learning. The eagle
owls, especially the rock eagle owl [Bubo bengalensis] and
the brown fish owl [Bubo zeylonensis] are called " ullu" in
Hindi and the word is also used as a synonym for "idiot"
or "imbecile". The most chilling sound during the quiet
and cold winter nights in the plains of Bengal is perhaps
the call of the " kaal penchaa", the Brown Hawk Owl. The
rhythmic "kuk - kuk - kuk" is believed to be a foreboding
of impending death. (Information thanks to Anirban
Brahmachari of Northern India)
Lakshmi Goddess with Owl
vedicgoddess.weebly.com
Inuit Eskimo Legend of Owl and Raven:
Celtic
(Cailleach, Oidhche, Comachag)
The word "cailleach" in the Scottish-Gaelic means old woman!, "coileach-oidhche" is the word for owl,
believe it or not it means "night-cockerel"! These birds were most often associated with the Crone
aspect of the Goddess. The owl is often a guide to and through the Underworld, a creature of keen
sight in darkness, and a silent and swift hunter. It can help unmask those who would deceive you or take
advantage of you. Owls are believed to have played a more prominent role in early Celtic cults, and could
perhaps have derived from a more broadly based deity of a common European descent. Predating the
Greek cult of Athene, for whom the owl was an animal attribute, were images of these mysterious birds
in Celtic lands.
Art By Wayside Boutique by Yui
For more information visit:
www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk
Owl and Raven were close friends. One day Raven made a new dress, drappled black and white, for
Owl. Owl, in return, made for Raven a pair of Whale-bone boots and then began to make for her a
white dress. When Owl wanted to fit the dress, Raven hopped about a-nd would not sit still. Owl
became very angry and said, “If I fly over you with a blubber lamp, don’t jump.” Raven continued to hop
about. At last Owl became very angry and emptied the blubber lamp over the new white dress. Raven
cried, “Qaq! Qaq!” Ever since that day Raven has been black all over.
Marble owl by Toonoo
Sharky
at:
carvingsnunavut.com
This Story was found at:
www.fristpeople.us

Where in the World is Olga the
Travel Owl?
BLUE OWL BREWING
Translate the secret language below or unscramble the message to find out!
Austin, Texas
Olga putovanja sova je to dernek se na špilja Bar, Dubrovnik, Hrvatska. Woo Hoot!
56
blueowlbrewing.com
Olga the Travel Owl is partying it up at The Cave Bar, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Woo Hoot!

Back Cover Art by The Art Shoppe JessArt
Studio by Jessie Fries
A DreamID Graphics Publication 2016