Owl Eye Issue 5_Int

Owl News All About Owls Owl Art Owl Photos
All Owl News All The Time!
Issue 5 Fall 2016
From the East
To the West
The Barred Owl
knows
Best
Featured Stories:
The Black Market Owl Egg Trade in Kenya Pg. 16
Spotted Owls & Forest Fires Pg. 10
Amazing New Owl Art &
Photography!
Controversy surrounding
the Barred Owl continues to
make headlines, but as The
Owl Eye’s Featured Fall Owl,
we learn more about this
growing species. Pg. 4
Photo By A. Bucci Photography
Avocado seed Owl Jewelry!
New Owl Art from Asia
Plus, Owl Poetry by
Sham Jolimie

Letter from the Editor
Welcome to the 5th issue of the Owl Eye Magazine! This Fall 2016 issue is full of some new amazing owl art, photography
and poetry from all over the world. Here at the Eye, we love that the owl community is so generous and willing to
contribute to us with so many different mediums - all to express love for owls! We have owl art from Asia, owl poetry, as
well as wonderful photography from Canada, the U.S. and Finalnd.
Owls inspire us in so many ways, and Fall is a great time to celebrate owls. It is a time where the weather turns cooler
and holidays such as Halloween, the Day of the Dead and All Souls Day saturate our culture. Owls play a big part in being
nocturnal creatures of the night, symbolizing messangers of the dead and being able to see through the mist of a guise to
the heart of the truth. It is a time where the veil between our reality and the otherworldly mystically combine - and the
ethereal nature of owls comes alive. In our new Owl Poetry section, Malaysian award-winning photographer, Sham Jolimie
describes the Barn owl as a Ghostbird, a name that particular owl has adopted as a nickname, as you may remember
from the previous Summer Issue. It is the white feathery underside of the owl that seems to glow at night when they fly -
especially in the light of the full moon.
This issue’s Featured Owl, the Barred owl, is a controversial owl, especially in the Pacific Nothwest. Because of habitat
destruction on the east coast, this owl has migrated to the other side of our country where old growth forests still
thrive. The controversy arises because the Barred Owl is now pushing out the northern spotted owl. We risk losing both
owl species because of the aggression of people towards the Barred owl. Awareness of the issue will hopefully bring light
to the fact that we need to help both species - in a humane manner.
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.
In Owl News we have great new research by Monica Bond of the Wild Nature Institute about the nothern spotted owl
and it’s relationship to habitat wildfires, also Bryan Bird’s summarized article from Defenders’ of Wildlife, and we have
Darcy Ogada’s article from The Peregrine Fund about her studies of the Kenyan black market owl egg issue that we have
all heard about. The Owl Eye is also going to follow up with this issue with The Peregrine Fund to see what it is we can
do to help this issue.
It is my pleasure to bring you this wonderful issue of The Owl Eye! Please enjoy.
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/
1

Featured Owl: Pages 4-9
Barred Owl
Owl Book Guide: Page 20
The Hidden Life of Owls by Leigh
Calvez, and The Complete Book of
North American Owls.
Owl Jewelry: Pages 22-24
Great new owl accessories
including owl jewelry made from
avocado seeds
Owl News: Pages 10-19
Monica Bond’s research from The
Wild Nature Institute
Owl Myth & Lore:
Pages 47 - 48
Mexico, Poland and France
Owl Events Calendar:
THis is still a work in progress
Where in the World is Olga?:
Page 56
The Owl Eye is trying to gain
permission from TY to use Olga
the Travel Owl in the Owl Eye
magazine. Stay tuned...
Defenders’ of Wildlife article
summarized from Bryan Bird
the Black Market of Owl Eggs
in Kenya by Darcy Ogada of The
Peregrine Fund.
Owl Art: Pages 28-36
Owl Art from Asia
Owl Painting by Lisa Carlson
Owl Poetry by Sham Jolimie
Photography by Jani Ylikangas
Hoo Knew? Pages 37
Barn Owl Boxes and Owl Cabin in
Bordeaux!
Owl Illustration: Page 41
The Art of Terance James Bond
of the UK by John Gray of the
International Owl Society
Owl Art Suri

An Inside Peak
to the
Clever &
T
h
e
F
e
a
t
u
Controversial
Barred
Owl
r
e
d
O
w
l
4 ©Joel Bakker

Description: The facial disc is pale greyish-brown with darker concentric lines. The rim is not very prominent. Eyes are
dark brown to blackish-brown. The cere is pale horn, the bill pale yellowish with a slight greenish tint. The sides of the head
and neck are barred light and dark. The upperparts are brown to greyish-brown, scalloped with whitish bars on the crown,
back and mantle. Wing-coverts are spotted whitish. Flight feathers are barred whitish-buff and brown. The tail is brown or
greyish-brown with 4-5 whitish bars.
Underparts are pale greyish-brown to dirty whitish. The upper breast and foreneck are densely barred light and dark. The rest
of the underparts are boldly streaked dark to rufous-brown.
Tarsi are feathered, and toes are almost totally feathered, the bare parts being yellowish-grey. Claws are dark horn with
blackish tips.
Barred Owl Photo By:
A. Bucci Photography
Size: Length 40-63 cm. Wingspan 96-125cm. Tail length 312-380mm. Weight 500-1050g. Females are normally larger and
heavier than males.
Habits: A nocturnal bird. Hides in dense foliage during the day, usually high up. May also roost on a branch close to a broad
tree-trunk, or in a natural tree hole. May be very aggressive when defending a nest.
Voice: 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. Other calls include "hoo-hoo, hoo-WAAAHH" and "hoo-WAAAHHH"
used in courtship. Mates will duet, but the male's voice is deeper and mellower. Many other vocalisations are made which range
from a short yelp or bark to a frenzied and raucous monkey-like squall.
Hunting & Food: A very opportunistic hunter, a Barred Owl can sometimes be seen hunting before dark. This typically
occurs during the nesting season or on dark and cloudy days. A Barred Owl will use a perch, from where it dives upon its prey
- meadow voles are its main prey, followed by shrews and deer mice. Other mammals include rats, squirrels, young rabbits,
bats, moles, opossums, mink, and weasels. Birds are taken occasionally, including woodpeckers, grouse, quail, jays, blackbirds,
and pigeons. They also eats small fish, turtles, frogs, snakes, lizards, crayfish, scorpions, beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers. Birds
are taken as they settle into nocturnal roosts, because they cannot catch birds on the wing. They will also swoop down to the
water's edge to catch frogs, other amphibians, and occasionally fish. Barred Owls are attracted to campfires and lights where
they forage for large insects. Prey is usually devoured on the spot. Larger prey is carried to a feeding perch and torn apart
before eating.
Breeding: Barred Owls call year-round but courtship activities begin in February with breeding occurring between March
and August. Males hoot and females give contact calls. As the nesting season approaches, males chase after females giving a
variety of hooting and screeching calls. Males display by swaying back and forth, and raising their wings, while sidling along
a branch. Courtship feeding and mutual preening also occur. Barred Owls nest in cavities and will also use abandoned Redshouldered
Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Squirrel, or Crow nests. Eggs number 2-4 and are white, and almost perfectly round, with
a slightly rough texture. They are likely laid every 2 to 3 days and incubation begins with the first egg laid. Incubation period
is 28-33 days. The Male brings food to the female while she is on the nest. The Barred Owl is single-brooded but has a long
breeding season, which allows for laying of replacement clutches if the first clutch or brood is lost. When the young leave the
nest, at about 4 weeks, they are not able to fly, but crawl out of the nest using their beak and talons to sit on branches. They
fledge at 35 to 40 days. Once they lose their down, there is no difference between adult and juvenile plumage.
Parents care for the young for at least 4 months, much longer than most other Owls. Young tend to disperse very short
distances, usually less than 10km, before settling. Pairs mate for life and territories and nest sites are maintained for many years.
6 info from: www.owlpages.com
7

Mortality: Barred Owls have been known to live up to 32 years in captivity and 10 years or more in the wild. Most deaths are
likely to be related to man (shootings, roadkills etc). Great Horned Owls are their only natural enemy.
Habitat: Barred Owls prefer deep moist forests, wooded swamps, and woodlands near waterways. Territories are 85-365
hectares.
Distribution: The Barred Owl is widespread in North America, they occur across most of the eastern half of the continent
from Florida northward to southern Canada; they are also spreading westward in the north of their range. Their spread westward
is causing concern as they may compete with the endangered Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis). Northern populations may be
partially migratory depending on food resources.
Status: Not threatened.
Original Description: Barton, Benjamin Smith.
1799. Fragment of the Natural History of Pennsylvania,
p. 11.
References:
Boyer and Hume. 1991. "Owls of the World".
BookSales Inc.
Campbell, Wayne. 1994. "Know Your Owls".
Axia Wildlife.
Duncan, James R.. 2003. "Owls of the World:
Their Lives, Behavior and Survival". Firefly
Books.
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.
Mikkola, Heimo. 2013. "Owls of the World:
A Photographic Guide (Second Edition)".
Bloomsbury.
Voous, Karel H.. 1988. "Owls of the Northern
Hemisphere". The MIT Press.
See also: Other owls from North America,
Genus: Strix.
Page by Deane Lewis. Last updated
2015-11-04.
Hoot!
8
Photo By Jeff Grotte
info from: www.owlpages.com

Owl the News that fit to Print!
Research from the Wild Nature Institute has found:
Several studies have now demonstrated that spotted owls can survive and thrive (successfully reproduce) within territories that have
experienced moderate- and high-severity fire. Research published by Wild Nature Institute’s scientists and others have found the
following:
· Spotted owls generally survive and continue to reproduce in territories that experienced severe fire.
· Only marginal sites (often vacant and non-reproductive) have lower occupancy after severe fire.
· Spotted owls nest and roost in stands with high canopy cover (unburned/low burned) even in burned landscapes.
· Spotted owls forage in severely burned stands.
· Home-range sizes are similar in burned and unburned landscapes.
· Post-fire logging causes territory abandonment and reduces survival.
Wild Nature Institute:
New Research on the Spotted Owl’s habitat and Old
Growth Fires
Fires where tress maybe burned but are still standing still provide the forest wildlife, including the spotted owl,
with all that they need to survive. When logging fires occur and trees are down, this is when the populations suffer.
Spotted Owl territory in the Red Star Fire, Eldorado National Forest.
Post-fire logging on private lands after the Red Star Fire, Eldorado National Forest.
Information and Research by Monica Bond
The spotted owl has been a big topic in owl news of late. It has been previously thought that the wildfires of the old growth
forests in the Pacific Norhwest have been devistating the species’ population. The old growth forests consist of old trees, large
canopy coverage and fallen logs - thus giving the owl places to nest. Wildfires destroy all of this nesting real estate which is why
such great efforts have been put forth to put them out or stop them from happenening all together.
Recent studies by Monica Bond of the Wild Nature Institute, an organization started by Bond more than a decade ago, dedicated
to studying owls and fire, has discovered that the wildfires have not been the reason for the declining spotted owl population. Her
studies show that the wildfires, which have been naturally occuring for thousands of years, don’t disturb the reproduction of the
owls. What they found was is that contunious logging practices in the old growth areas of California and the Pacific Northwest
have had the most impact on the spotted owl.
The spotted owl is the main species that the Forest Service watches to indicate whether or not they are doing a good job at
managing the area’s forests. If the spotted owl’s populations declines than a good job has not been done. Both Forest Service and
National Park lands have spotted owl populations. The only difference is that logging, while reduced is still permitted on Forest
Service lands while it’s strictly prohibited on Park Service lands. Bond found that both areas had wildfires, but only in the Forest
Service lands were the owls suffering.
Bond’s summary paper discribes that the effects of forest fires do not interefere with owl life. This is bad news for the Forest
Service since billions are spent trying to prevent fires as well as monitoring logging in these areas to reduce fire risk.
information from MongaBay and Wild Nature Institute
Scientific publications by Wild Nature Institute scientists about Spotted Owls and Forest Fire:
· Bond et al. 2016. Foraging habitat selection by California spotted owls after fire.
· Lee and Bond 2015. Previous year’s reproductive state affects Spotted Owl site occupancy and reproduction responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbances.
· Lee and Bond 2015. Occupancy of California Spotted Owl sites following a large fire in the Sierra Nevada, California.
· Odion et al. 2014. Effects of fire and commercial thinning on future habitat of the Northern Spotted Owl.
· Lee et al. 2013. Influence of fire and salvage logging on site occupancy of spotted owls in the mountains of Southern California.
· Bond et al. 2013. Diet and home-range size of California Spotted Owls in a burned forest.
· Lee et al. 2012. Dynamics of California Spotted Owl breeding-season site occupancy in burned forests.
· Bond et al. 2010. Winter movements by California Spotted Owls in a burned landscape.
· Bond et al. 2009. Habitat selection and use by California Spotted Owls in a post-fire landscape.
· Bond et al. 2002. Short-term effects of wildfires on spotted owl survival, site fidelity, mate fidelity, and reproduction.
Wild Nature Institute

The Wild Nature Institute
Conducts Scientific Research
on At-Risk Wildlife Species and Their Habitats,
Advocates for Their Protection,
and Educates the Public About the Need to Preserve Wild Nature.
Experienced consultants in:
· Wildlife Surveys
· Population Assessment and Monitoring
· Statistical Analysis of Population Data
· Radio-Telemetry Studies
· Capture-Mark-Recapture Studies
· Resource Selection and Habitat Studies
· GIS Mapping and Analysis
· Expert Declarations
· Synthesis Reports
Wild Nature Institute
P.O. Box 165
Hanover, NH 03755
USA +1 415 630 3487 / TZ
+255 686 037 481
info@wildnatureinstitute.org
Barred Owl by:
A.Bucci Photography 13

The Mexican Spotted Owl and Forest Fires
126 E Cedar St. Houston, Minnesota | Call (507) 896-6957
Information summarized
from:
Climbing For Owls
By Bryan Bird from The
Defenders of Wildlife Blog
on September 6, 2016
Midnight hikes through the wilderness may
help answer important questions about how
Mexican spotted owls are recovering.
The Mexican Spotted Owl has been listed as a threatened species since 1993. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
protected the owl due to the effects of logging and wildfires on its habitat. Bryan Bird and a team from the Defenders of Wildlife
Southwest Region takes us on late night hike hoping to see some Mexican Spotted Owls.
No one actually knows how many owls are left in this species and there was about a 50/50 chance of seeing one on this recorded
journey, but the hikers were determined.
The Mexican spotted owl, unlike its northern cousin, lives in the U.S. Southwest and Mexico, but like its cousin, the owl’s
population numbers are declining, even though forest wildfires have been monitored and reduced. New research concludes that
the owls indeed do thrive off the old growth forests even after a burn, even going as far to say that they recover well and increase
reproductioon. “This information indicates that these owls actually thrive in a post-fire environment. Their rate of reproduction in
severely burned areas is higher than in others, even seven years after the fires.” (B. Bird).
The big question from Bryan Bird arises: “If natural wildfire patterns aren’t the
greatest threat to Mexican spotted owls, what is?”
The International Owl Center in Houston, Minnesota is offering Owl Prowls for the
rest of the Fall, Winter and Spring. Check out the prowl schedule:
Owl Prowls
September 24, 2016 at 6:30 PM (carpool)
October 15, 2016 at 6:30 PM (carpool)
November 12, 2016 at 6:30 PM (carpool)
December 31, 2016 at 6:30 PM (carpool)
January 14, 2017 at 6:30 PM (carpool)
February 11, 2017 at 6:30 PM (carpool)
March 4, 2017 at 8:00 PM (on a bus as part of the Festival of Owls)
April 15, 2017 at 7:30 PM (carpool)
Bird calling device ©USFS
Bird states that there is no solid evidence of what is really
causing the Mexican spotted owl its issues, especially with
the fact that we don’t even know the exact number of
these owls. Bryan, along with Karl Malcolm, PhD, Regional
Wildlife Ecologist for the Southwestern Region of the
U.S. Forest Service, and two biological technicians from
the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, journeyed on a hike
to find out what is going on with these owls. The two
biotechs would install a digital owl-calling device to see
if they could attract some spotted owls. They expected
about a 50/50 chance of recording one.
Unfortunately, no owls were recorded on the night time hike, but as Bird states, “I thought about the Mexican spotted owl and all the
questions we have about what presents the greatest threat to their recovery and what it will take to protect the species. I returned to
my vehicle at 2 AM with no certain answers, but pleased with the knowledge that at least we’re taking steps to get them. It may take
some time, but Defenders of Wildlife will be there along the way to ensure spotted owls are around for the next generation.”
Members: $7, non-members $10, though price is yet to be determined
for the March owl prowl bus.
Please see Defenders of Wildlife for more details on what they do for owl issues and conservation.
15

“Kenyans were not looking to acquire owls so much as their eggs. Those in
possession of owl eggs asked about where they could sell them.”
Where an Owl Egg Is Worth More Than Ivory or
Rhino Horn
This article first appeared on the National Geographic Society's Explorers Journal Blog.
Find it and more at voices.nationalgeographic.com.
by Darcy Ogada of The Peregrine Fund in Explorers Journal on October 4, 2016
Nine years ago I was regularly in the field in central Kenya studying Mackinder’s eagle owls (Bubo capensis mackinderi) and
promoting their conservation among the local community.
The reason we had to promote the conservation of owls is because they are widely despised, not just in Kenya, but throughout
Africa and many other parts of the world.
In Africa a widely held belief is that if an owl lands on the roof of your house someone inside will die. Their hooting calls during the
dark of night instill fear and a sense of dread. It’s no wonder then that owls are regularly stoned or killed.
Female Mackinder’s Eagle Owl Photo by S. Thomsett
In the western world owls are are more often seen as
beloved, wise creatures and their symbolism inspires many
seemingly ordinary people into a collector’s frenzy. For those
who love owls, a home can soon become a warehouse for
all things “owl”: owl cups, owl plates, owl toilet seat covers.
Even the food on their plates may be owl-shaped. Not to be
forgotten are the falconers who specialize in keeping owls.
Once word got out about our owl project I received no end
of emails asking me how I could help someone abroad acquire
a Mackinder’s eagle owl under the guise that they would be
breeding them to boost their populations in the wild. I won’t
go into why I felt their noble cause was actually more of a
self-indulgent personal agenda.
Unsolicited emails and phone calls to acquire owls also came
from within Kenya, but for very different reasons. Kenyans were
not looking to acquire owls so much as their eggs. Those in
possession of owl eggs asked about where they could sell them.
Female Due Makinder’s to the superstitions Eagle Owl Photo around by S. Thomsett owls, they are widely used in Africa for witchcraft. The exact beliefs surrounding the use of owl eggs
are not well known, but calls I received generally came from well-educated individuals seeking to cure a relative of cancer or HIV-
Aids. Many indicated that their Tanzanian witch doctor had prescribed the need for fresh owl eggs. Tanzanian belief in witchcraft is
strong and their witch doctors are held in high esteem here in neighboring Kenya.
Even the collection of the eggs from a nest is a superstitious ritual that involves first sprinkling the eggs with maize flour then
subsequently collecting the eggs without touching them directly, but by using black-and-white cloths.
Over the intervening years what started as a few inquiries per year about owl eggs quickly
became a landslide. Why? Money, of course.
Taking an average of prices cited in a 2011 news report and solicitations in online forums from 2014, an owl
egg in Kenya can be expected to fetch $3,796. This works out to about $89/gram. The cost of ivory in China
in November 2015 was $1.10/gram and that of rhino horn in Vietnam in September of 2016 was $35/gram.
With full acknowledgement of the difficulty of knowing actual black-market prices, and the fluctuations in
those prices year to year, the overall picture is still clear: Owl eggs can cost more than twice the price of
rhino horn and about eighty times the price of ivory.
Someone recently asked me, “but who are these people in Africa that have the kind of money to buy a highpriced
owl egg?” I assured him there are plenty of people with that kind of money. Economic growth has
surged in many African countries. According to a recent report by New World Wealth, Africa is now home
to more than 160,000 people with personal fortunes worth in excess of $1m, which represents a twofold
increase in the number of wealthy individuals since the turn of the century. Add to that the fortunes of the
political elite who are pushing the demand (and in turn the price) of owl eggs through the roof. Owl eggs are
now consumed to boost a politician’s chance of winning the next election.
Sadly, I can no longer study owls in the wild because by searching for owls you become an unsuspecting cog
in the informal wheel of the owl egg trade. Your motives for looking for owls will be questioned, your every
moves followed, and you endanger the very owls you seek to conserve.
No matter where you go in Kenya (and I mean absolutely everywhere) there are people scouring the
landscape for owl eggs. Some sell to middlemen from across the border. Others have just heard of the
lucrative trade and are seeking information on where to sell the eggs.
Because the trade in owl eggs is illegal, it is completely underground, which makes finding out about it very
difficult. Due to the huge amounts of money that are involved, snooping around is risky business.

The pearl-spotted owlet is another species
affected by the illegal trade in owl eggs. (Photo
by D. Ogada)
The
Peregrine
Fund
Conserving Birds of Prey
Worldwide
World Center for Birds of Prey
Explore the amazing world of raptors eye to eye! The Velma Morrison Interpretive Center is The Peregrine
Fund's one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor education center where you'll meet eagles, owls, vultures, hawks, and
falcons from around the world.
Stealing owl eggs from a nest is probably one of the easiest forms of wildlife crime. No shots are fired, and no carcasses are left
behind. Unlike elephant tusks, you can hide eggs in your pocket. If you are caught with eggs, very few in authority would know the
difference between owl eggs and chicken eggs, so you can claim they are the latter and just walk away. And because owls are widely
despised, there’s little public sympathy for their plight.
There is no doubt that Kenya’s owl populations are collapsing. Every owl species is targeted and since collectors even work inside
national parks, nowhere is safe for an owl to nest. The fact that one owl egg brings returns to the local collector that are more than
four times the average monthly income guarantees that the number of offspring actually hatching is exceedingly small.
The population I studied from 2004-7 has not produced a single chick in over two years. I also believe that locals are capturing owls
in an unsuccessful bid to try to breed them. This is only resulting in more heartbreak as they have no idea how to care for owls and
they end up starved to death.
Unlike the trade in ivory and rhino horn, owl eggs are being harvested mainly for local markets. Some sources have mentioned a
market in the Middle East, particularly Dubai, but the existence of a trade in owl eggs to this region has yet to be substantiated.
What we do know is that we need to stop this illicit trade before it wipes out East Africa’s owls.
While the focus of the illegal African wildlife trade is primarily on species that are trafficked to the Far East, we also need to raise
awareness of the massive impact of the wildlife trade on species trafficked within Africa, species whose eggs or body parts are
worth more than ivory and rhino horn combined, species of which owls are just one of many.
Highlights
Live raptor presentations throughout the day.
Discovery Room to engage young visitors with hands-on eggs, feathers, puzzles, and costumes.
Wild raptors visible from a 1/4-mile trail winding through restored habitat areas to overlook Boise.
Condor Cliffs, a Grand Canyon-inspired habitat for California Condors. The world's largest captive flock
is housed in nearby breeding chambers to raise young for release to the wild.
Indoor exhibits show raptor adaptations, diet, migration, and breeding. Find out why birds of prey are
threatened, and how The Peregrine Fund saves species from extinction.
The Archives of Falconry displays the world's most comprehensive English-language falconry library,
plus artifacts from ancient and modern falconry traditions.
The Gift Shop offers a hand-picked selection of raptor-related items, snacks, and drinks.
Fall Flights every October feature raptors showing off their aerial skills at Raptor Ridge.
E-mail: tpf@peregrinefund.org
With prices as high as these the stakes are high and these species don’t stand a chance without urgent intervention.
Darcy Ogada thanks an anonymous source for information that contributed to this story.
Visitor Center: 208-362-8687
Business Office: 208-362-3716
5668 West Flying Hawk Lane
18
Boise, Idaho 83709
19

Hungry Owl Project
OWLS
A naturalist probes the forest, mainly at night, to comprehend the
secret lives of owls in this book that will appeal to readers of Crow
Planet and H is for Hawk. Join Leigh Calvez on adventures into the
world of owls: owl-watching, avian science, and the deep forest—
often in the dead of night. These birds are a bit mysterious, and that’s
part of what makes them so fascinating. Calvez makes the science
entertaining and accessible while exploring the questions about the
human-animal connection, owl obsession, habitat, owl calls, social
behavior, and mythology.
This book can be found on amazon at: Amazon.com
The Complete Book of North American Owls offers a rare, up-close
look at one of the world’s most intriguing birds. From the silent, lethal
swoop of a great horned owl as it swerves between northern pines
to make a kill, to the pert bobbing of a pygmy owl as it focuses on an
intruder, the habits of each species are vividly described.
Each species has its own extensive introduction that explains its
hunting techniques, courtship rituals, nesting habits, territorial calls, and
specialized traits.
Six pages of stunning full-color images devoted to each owl capture the
elusive bird in its various forms from juvenile to adult, male/female, and
also in flight.
The Complete Book of North American Owls celebrates these
dramatic and stealthy nocturnal hunters and showcases twenty owl
species in extensive detail.
In an event presented by the Hungry Owl
Projectand the Marin Art and Garden Center
ornithologist and award-winning photographer
Paul Bannick will give us an extraordinary peek
into the lives of North American owls. If you've
seen Paul Bannick's presentations before then
you know how enthralling he is. Don't miss it!
Paul will be signing copies of his book after.
Featuring more than 200 images captured over
several years of field work, Bannick’s latest book,
“Owl”, is a stunning journey through the lifecycle
and varying landscapes that owls inhabit.
A gorgeous photographic feast and an engaging
natural history lesson, this presentation makes
a compelling call to preserve the habitats that
sustain these most iconic of birds.
November 20th, 6:30-8:30pm at the Marin Art &
Garden Center, Ross, CA
Register here:
Marin Art and Garden
Also it you are interested in creating or
helping to build Owl Boxes. the Hungry
Owl Project Website is a great resource.
Please visit:
20
You can find it on Amazon.com
www.hungryowlproject.org and read all
about how to make your own owl box!

Owl Jewelry
Elina Gleizer’s new Barn Owl Ring with Champagne
Diamonds. These rings are exceptional quality and if you
are a person looking for a great ring to express your love
for owls, or if you nkow someone who would love a unique
engagement or commitment ring, look no further.
Elina Gleizer
Owl Bracelet from Inspired Silver
This really pretty owl bracelet is silver toned
metal featuring a detailed owl with hand set
clear crystals and accent black crystal eyes.
This 7 1/2 inch white metal bracelet features
a sturdy double link and decorative lobster
claw clasp. Also available matching necklace
and earrings. This piece caught the eye of
The Owl Eye right away!
Cosmizi Avocado Seed Art from Greece is
a truely unique technique for creating this
adorable owl necklace!
“The owl is sacred to the ancient greek
goddess of learning, Athena and is
considered a symbol of status, intelligence,
wealth and of course, wisdom! This
wooden necklace is inspired by greek
mythology and will make you look stylish
and elegant in combination with a solid
color dress! Also, a perfect gift for owl
enthusiasts!”
OwlFanWorld donates 10% of their
procedes to the World Owl Trust! It is
the hope of the Eye that more people that
create owl crafts and products can do this
in future. How great would that be?
We think this bracelet is very pretty and
elegant. Check out their site, there are a lot
of really great owl gifts ofr any owl lover.
It is handmade, ecological and vegan
friendly.
www.OwlFanWorld.com
22
@owlfanworldeu
23

The Owl Eye Magazine and Wire Whirled handmade Bead and Wire Jewelry teamed up to bring
you Owl Whireld Beaded Bracelets! All are handmade by Lisa Spiegelman and feature a silver
toned owl charm. 10% of procedes from the bracelets and all Wire Whirled purchases go to owl
conservation. Please go to www.etsy.com/shop/WireWhirled and message for details or color requests.
The World Owl Trust in the UK is dedicated to owl conservation and owl related
issues. They have been helping owls with breeding programmes, overseas
education and program installation since1972. They are creating a new World Owl
Center and need donations. They also have many owls that could use your help
with daily care. If you love owls, please consider adopting one of the WOT’s many
beautiful birds.
Please see their website at: www.owls.org
and their shop at: www.worldowltrust.org
25

Defenders of Wildlife
International
Owl Society
International Owl Society 20th Anniversary
Snowy Owl
Adoption through
Defenders of
Wildlife
Snowy owls are magnificent birds that depend on threatened places like
Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to survive. Unfortunately, Big Oil
continues its relentless campaign to open up the Arctic Refuge to oil drilling
and development that scientists say could be disastrous to the environment
and harm snowy owls and countless other species.
How Your Adoption Helps Snowy Owls
Your adoption supports Defenders’ efforts to protect the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge and other important habitats for snowy owls, particularly in
the face of global climate change.
1130 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036 1-800-385-9712
9:00 am - 6:00 pm EST, Monday-Friday
memberservices@defenders.org
Congratulations to the UK based International Owl Society (IOS) which recently celebrated the
20th Anniversary of its founding at a meeting held at the Cotswold Wildlife Park in Oxfordshire!
The IOS was established in 1996 to provide a worldwide forum for all of those interested in owls and to provide a
conduit through which knowledge and experience could be channelled. Being neither competitive or elitist it welcomes
membership from individuals who share a passion or interest in owls
The Society has been active in the field of conservation since its inception and has supported conservation work in
Nigeria, Uganda, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. It currently supports the Wildlife Conservation Society's Blakiston's
Fish Owl Project in Russia where the diminution of fish owl habitat can be directly linked to the collapse of the old Soviet
Union and the end of logging restrictions from that era
The Society house magazine "Tyto" is published four times each year, 3 of which are Electronic and 1 "Hard-copy", which
are free to members.
The IOS in has run its own Owl First Aid courses and
Educational Seminars for members and produced its own
publications including the much acclaimed "Housing and
Presenting Owls" by Bernard Sayers.
The Society holds two meetings each year which are held at
eminent Bird of Prey and Zoological Centres within the UK.
Membership of the IOS costs £20 per annum which at current
exchange rates represents very good value for non-UK
residents.
All donations support our work to protect and restore the wildlife and wild
places you care about.
Please visit Wildlife Adoption and Gift Center
for more information on the various Snowy Owl
Adoption kits. A great gift for any owl lover or of
course, yourself.
Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.
Founded in 1947, Defenders of Wildlife is a major national conservation organization focused solely on wildlife and habitat
conservation and the safeguarding of biodiversity. We believe in the inherent value of wildlife and the natural world, and this singular
focus defines our important niche in the environmental and conservation community and serves as the anchor for our organizational
values.
To find out more visit: www.international-owl-society.com
(A new website is arriving around the end of the year)
To receive a sample copy of Tyto the IOS house-magazine
please pay GBP5.00 at paypal@international-owl-society.
com (message Tyto sample) and we will mail you a copy
of our December 2015 issue.
25
Photo by Mark Whittaker

Owl Art
28
Painting By:
Lisa Carlson

Blackiston’s Fish Owl Wood carving from Japan
http://g-fukurou.com/
Owl Art from Asia
Owl
Sculpture
Tiffany Moontrey
Eagle Owl
Woodcraft carved Owls from the Owl Shop, Penang, Malaysia
Tony Angell,
Night
Bronze
www.fosterwhite.com
30 31

Pioneer of the Soul
Iwao Akiyama
Date: 1979
Medium:WOODBLOCK
Jani Ylikangas
---
One my earliest memories of owls is from when I was around 10 years old and a friend from school took
me to see a boreal owl nest that his father had found. We knocked on this dead tree and saw a magical creature appear
from an old woodpecker hole with two big yellow eyes staring down at us.
Once I started photographing nature 3 years ago one of my goals was to relive that moment from my childhood and
capture it. The only problem was that these days it's a lot more difficult to find boreal owls and even more difficult to
find one nesting in an old tree rather than a nest box. In the spring of 2015 vole populations were high and on
my night trips I could hear boreal owl males calling in several forests. I knew it was time to put an effort into capturing
the life of these elusive owls. Luckily I was able to find several nests and take photos of different stages of the breeding
season. The project came to a very happy end on my own birthday when I met a fledling in an old spruce forest. In
Finland we have midnight sun during the summer and it provided just the perfect light to get a photo that looks almost
like a painting .
Owl Art from Japan
Scriptum Fine Japanese Prints
www.japaprintart.com
32 33

Boreal Owls By Jani
In the Forests of Finland...
Jani Ylikangas is a wildlife
photographer from Kokkola, Finland.
He's best known for his viral photo
"Torpedo Owl" and for taking selfies
with many shy bird species. This
year Jani won two prizes in
Finnish Nature Photo of the Year
competition. His style is influenced
by artists such as Rien Poortvliet and
Von Wright brothers."
34
Boreal Owls by Jani Ylikangas

Ghostbird
They call you Burung Hantu
How rare to catch a glimpse of you
Guardian of the paddy field
Protector of the rice yield
Silent like moonlight
Essential like sunlight
Ghostbird
Barely seen and never heard
Photo and Poem By
Sham Jolimie
Sham Jolimie is an award-winning nature photographer that is passionate
about animal wellfare, nature conservation and social justice, from near Kuala Lumpur,
Malasia. In conjunction with taking striking photographs of owls and other animals as
well, Sham donates to animal welfare organizations. We hope that her images inspire
our readers to donate as well. She is passionate about keeping wildlife wild and not
domesticating animals that are not meant to be pets. This definitely pertains to owls,
although we recognize the importance of educational birds and rehabilitated birds
that cannot survive in the wild.
This poem about the Barn Owl is Sham’s first owl poem and the Eye is delighted to
be the first to share it.!
Please check out her wesbite at: https://500px.com/shamjolimie
36

Hoo Knew?
Crazy Interesting Owl Facts
In the last issue, The Owl Eye mentioned that the
French really love owls. We went to check it out in
Bordeaux, France - the land of wine and, apparently,
owls! This Owl Cabin sits in a park where anyone
can go see it.
Liberty Wildlife is finally realizing our dream of relocating to a stunning, state-of-the-art, sustainable building to serve our
thousands of animals that come through our doors for care every year. This move marks an especially important milestone for
conservation in the state, and our organization plans to celebrate with our Valley community on Saturday, November 19, 2016,
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This move and upgrade will better enable our nonprofit to serve the needs of Arizona’s wildlife as well as the needs of the
community, with minimal impact to the land that it fosters. In our first event held at the new facility, we will open our doors to
families and visitors of all ages to get a sneak peek of everything our organization offers the community.
During the day’s festivities, guests will be able to hear about educational ambassadors including their habitats, natural history
and other interesting facts about local wildlife. We will also teach attendees about how these different animals correspond to
the work our nonprofit does locally. Families can also even take part in crafting activities with Liberty Wildlife staff, where they
can make pinecone bird feeders, decorate and make nests from recycled water bottles and so much more.
Barn Owl s are great for
vineyard owners! They love
to feasting on pesky rodents
that invade the vines. Forget
pesticides, and build an owl box
if you need to be rid of mice,
voles or any other small rodent.
The event will take place on Saturday, November 19, and will feature a barbecue cookout with hot dogs and light refreshments.
Later in the afternoon, Liberty Wildlife will also conduct a raffle that will award a lucky family the opportunity to have a
behind-the-scenes guided tour of the facility and even meet some of the animals up-close and personal.
Liberty Wildlife is committed to nurturing the nature of Arizona by providing quality wildlife
rehabilitation, environmental education, and conservation services for the community.
We’ve Moved!
We’re excited to announce the move to our new facility located at:
2600 E. Elwood St. For mre info go to www.libertywildlife.org
Phoenix, AZ 85040 38

Les Chuettes Du
Coeur
This association travels to specialised areas
to help residents of disability and social
difficulties. through animal therpy. The
owls accompany the teams and offer this
new therapy. The people discover the of a
universe of flying through meeting with the
owls. It is fascinationg to share a dream with
those who are prisoners of their illness or
life course.
Thanks to these meetings with the birds,
everyone can tame her /his fear, gain selfconfidence,
better understanding of their
environment, share emotions and moments
of happiness.
The association will also travel to schools
where they work with educators and
teachers to gain awareness of future
generations to believe in a stronger respect
for wildlife.
The association has been working for more
than 6 years now and moves to a new home
Burgundy. Franche Comté. Quite amazing!
Please visit their Facebook Page
39
Photo By ©Joel Bakker

Owl Illustration
Tawny Owl By Terance james Bond
Story written and contributed by John Gray
of the Internationaal Owl Society
It's all Tickety-Boo *
for Mr. Bond....................
"There is a funny thing about owl paintings: it seems to
me that there is a feeling of disdain, even annoyance
on the part of the bird at having been disturbed by the
viewer.
Most of my owl paintings offer a face-to-face
confrontation. The bird rotates its head to glare over its
shoulder at whoever has blundered into its private world
to the extent that one almost feels like apologising to
the owl when retreating"
These are the words of Terance James Bond, who is arguably
one of the United Kingdom's most successful, sought after
and dare I say best-loved Bird Artists. You may not recognise
the name but is almost guaranteed that you will recognise
the work of Mr Bond, perhaps seen on a calendar, Wedgwood
plate or cover art for Tyto the house magazine of the
International Owl Society.
Once known Bond's works are instantly recognisable, not only
for the realism of the birds, painted life-size but also for their
superbly detailed and intricate backgrounds, faithfully painted
as seen without any form of contemporary presentation or
embellishment. His two great loves are birds and the English
countryside, particularly his native county of Suffolk.
Having recently recently celebrated his 70th birthday Terance
James Bond is able to reflect on a career as an artist and
illustrator of Natural History exceeding 45 years, which
kick-started when his first exhibition, held in 1970, sold
out in a matter of 20 minutes. Likewise, he has been
associated with producing calendars for the
UK’s Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds (RSPB) for almost 40 years.
Usually birthdays of special significance are also celebrated with an exhibition, but dedicated followers
were disappointed that one was not held on this special occasion. His last exhibition held in 2011,
which also coincided with the launch of his fifth and most recent book "A Bond with Birds"
offered 37 paintings for sale which ranged in size from small works sized at 10 x 8 inches
to a massive Tawny Owl 36 x 48 inches and priced at USD 47,500.00. The amount of
work needed to prepare for such an exhibition is enormous especially when
combined with commission work and preparation for calendars. On this
occasion due to a large number of commissions (Mr. Bond is not
complaining) meant that there were simply no other paintings
available for sale.
“The bird rotates
its head to glare over
its shoulder at whoever
has blundered into its private
world to the extent that one
almost feels like apologising to the
owl when retreating" -TJB
Home for the Bonds is a single story ranch style property in their beloved rural Suffolk which stands in its own nature
reserve of 10 acres. As his career prospered additional land was purchased, ponds dug and trees in their hundreds planted. In
excess of 100 species of birds have been observed within the boundaries of the plot which testify to the success of the planting
and continuing husbandry.
Terance has been a regular painter of owls and subject species have included Barn Owls, Tawny Owls, Short and Long-eared Owls,
Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Tengmalm's Owl, Little Owl and Great Grey Owls. If pressed Mr Bond will confess the latter
two species as his favourite subjects.
In preparing for a work the camera has largely supplanted the role of the sketch-pad. Looking retrospectively at his work, it is
apparent that backgrounds have become ever more detailed and complex. To glean finite detail for his paintings, he is a regular
visitor to far flung parts of the UK where fence posts complete with growths, fittings and wire or twine accoutrements are
captured through the viewfinder for future reference and dissection. He is a stickler for the accurate presentation of the smallest
detail and draws the viewer's attention to items that they know are there but that do not necessarily command first notice. The
other advantage offered by the camera over the sketch pad is that it allows nature's own intricate composition to be re-arranged
or edited in the studio for the purposes of a particular work.
We perhaps imagine artists as leading freer and less regimented lives than those of us whose lives and employment are dictated
by the routine of the “9 thru 5” of the working day. It may be surprising therefore that Terance has been the “victim” of his own
success when calendar work demanded 18 works a year (to avoid repetition and the necessity of working three years ahead)
which created the necessity of often working a seven day week.

Terance James Bond
US readers may wonder why,
outside of the Wildlife Art fraternity,
Terance James Bond is not more
widely known in their country.
Visitors there to that well known
online auction site may occasionally
see offered for sale prints including
Blue Jays and the American Kestrel
published by Mill Pond Press Inc
which resulted from a brief flirtation
with, and visit to the US.
Photographs:
1) Terance James Bond working on a commissioned work of a Long-eared Owl on a Field Maple in his studio in
2016. (Painting Size 26 x 14 inches-Medium Acrylic)
(2) “Tawny Owl” 2015 (Painting Size 24 x 12 inches-Medium Acrylic) Although Mr Bond has painted examples of
Strix aluco many times, he professes this work to be his favourite.
(3) “Little Owl” 2016 (Painting Size 30 x 14 inches-Medium Acrylic)
All three works and many other Terance James Bond titles are available as Limited Edition Fine Art Giclee Prints
from UK based Strix Editions www.strixeditions.co.uk
It became apparent to Terance
that whilst there was the potential
to achieve a similar high level of
recognition in the US it would
require he and Jill spending ever
increasing periods of time there
away from their idyllic Suffolk
surrounding and make demands
on him, which would be to the to
the detriment of his UK customer
base, which he reluctantly could not
accede to.
Barred Owl By A. Bucci Photography
So having transitioned age-wise
through a change of “big-figure” has
Mr Bond’s appetite for his “strigid”
subjects diminished? Take a look at
the accompanying Little Owl work,
very recently completed, which
suggests not and evidences that his
works just keep getting better and
better!
* “Tickety-Boo” an expression meaning
all in good order or fine. Thought by
some to have originated in Scotland, but
more likely derived in the 1930s from
the Hindi expression “Tik hai babu”
meaning “All Good Sir!”. Readers of a
certain age may remember the song “It’s
all Tickety-Boo” sung by Danny Kaye in
the Hollywood production of the film
“Merry Andrew”.
Little owl By Terance james Bond
43 44

Three Baby Barred Owls
By A. Bucci Photography

Owl Myth and Lore
What people think of owls around
the world...
Poland: Polish folklore links Owls with death. Girls who die
unmarried turn into doves; girls who are married when they die turn
into Owls.
An owl cry heard in or near a home usually meant impending death,
sickness, or other misfortune.
An old story tells how the Owl does not come out at during the day
because it is too beautiful, and would be mobbed by other, jealous birds.
France:
when a pregnant woman hears an Owl it is an omen that her child will be a girl. The owl is one of the
city symbols for Dijon, Bourgogne in France. For good luck, it is traditional for residents and visitors to
touch the owl sculpture on the northern wall of the Notre-Dame church in Dijon.
Mexico
The Lechuza is a Mexican urban legend that is about an old woman that can turn into a black bird. “Lechuza” means “owl” in
English and the myth is known as “La Mujer de Lechuza” or “The Owl Witch”.
According to the legend, there is an old witch or “bruja” that can turn herself into a monstruous black bird and stalk your
house at night if you have done her wrong. She can also appear with the body of a bird with the head of a hideous old woman.
They usually come out after dusk or at night and appear as a dark bird against the light of the moon and flying over tops of
houses.
If you find unexplained scratches on your door or windows in the morning, it could mean a lechuza has visited your house at
night.
info from www.scaryforkids.com
Image from: demonhunterscompendium.blogsp
Photo By Lisa Spiegelman
info from www.owlpages.com 48

Jessie Fries
Barred Owl
A DreamID Graphics Publication 2016
www.dreamidgraphics.com
dreamofyourid@gmail.com