The Owl Eye Magazine Issue 8

Owl News All About Owls Owl Art Owl Photos
Owl the News You Need!
Issue 8, Summer 2017
Underground
Wonders:
The
Burrowing
Owl
CALL FOR ARTSITS!
Look for the new Owl Eye Magazine
Art Contest! Page 18
A.Bucci Photography
The Art of Tony
Fitzpatrick
The Eye’s Exclusive
Interview
The New
Owl Eye
Magazine
Shop is Open!

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/
Festival of Owls!
June 2/3/4/17

Letter from the Editor
Welcome to the Summer Issue of the Owl Eye Magazine. Summer is usually a slower time for owls, as the chicks have
hatched and made their ways from the nest. Owls are taking this time to enjoy the warm weather in the Arctic (Snowy
Owls) as well as in other places with the abundance of food that is around them. This issue focusses on the Burrowing Owl.
The Burrowing owl is found in warmer climates such as the Southeastern United States; Florida in particular, where many
efforts are being taken to preserve the Burrowing Owl’s habitat.
The Burrowing Owl can also be found in the desert - among the cactii and praries of the Southwest. Being able to live
underground is a highly preferrable way to spend the hot summer days of the Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and all over
the Central and Western U.S. This owl can also be found in Central and South America. It’s unusallly long legs and huge
yellow eyes almost give it the look of a roadrunner, since it scampers very quickly over the open pastures.
A new feature is being added to this issue! I know that many people who read this magazine really enjoy the owl art that we
have here. I wanted to give everyone a chance to be a part of the magazine and create their own owl art! Details are listed
on page 36 of this issue and I would like to personally thank Sham Jolimie of Imagery by Sham for her help and cooperation
with the contest. A digital and print version will be available for this issue so that you can see Sham’s beautiful photography
and poem for the inspiration for the art contest.
Enjoy!
Lisa Spiegelman
Designer/Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
Owl Eye Magazine
www.dreamidgraphics.com
www.facebook.com/theowleyemagazine/
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The Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The
3
2
“Hootiful Day” By James Browne

The Featured Owl: Page 7-10
The Owl Eye explores both the
Burrowing Owl for the summer issue.
Photography by A.Bucci, Erik Berg,
Kelly Raymond and Jeff Grotte, info
from The Owl Pages.
OWL NEWS: Project Perch
Pages 12-14
Cugat’s Commentary: article fom The
World Owl Trust’s, Ivan Ellis
Owl Art Contest: Call for Artists
Page 18.
The Owl Eye Magazine is holding a
call for Artists for a new owl art
contest. Check the page for details.
Owl Books: Page 22
“The Secret Birds”
By Tony Fitzpatrick
Artist Interview with Tony Fitzpatrick
Pages: 30-35
The Eye goes to Chicago artist Tony
Fitzpareick’s studio for an exclusive
interview.
Owl Poetry: Page 36-37
Owl Poetry and Photography by
Sham Jolimie
Owl Research Institute: Page 40
The ORI updates us on their Boreal Owl
study
Hoo Knew: Page 43
Owl Myth and Lore: Page 44-45
Myth and lore from Versailles, france,
as well as Mexico.
“Gufalario”
By Martin Cambria
Owl Art: Pages 26-29
Kentaro Nishino
Wayside Boutique Art by Yui
Sohn Ken
James Browne
Owl Jewelry and Owl Shop: Pages 19-20
The New Owl Shop is open! Check
out our page and website at www.
theowleyemagazine.com
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Ten years after the last meeting in Groningen, The Netherlands, this important event for all researchers, naturalists and
ornithologists dedicated to studying owls finally returns. Since 2007, there have been many new owls described to science,
significant improvements in the technology involved with owl research, a deeper recognition of the role owls play in education,
refined survey and monitoring techniques, declines in species populations, advances in conservation strategies and recovery
planning, broader understanding of the role that owls play in ecosystems, more insights into fossils and the evolution of owls,
and a richer focus on the role of owls in human myths and culture.
This conference will bring together the world’s leaders in all aspects of owl science, conservation, education, genetics, habitat,
and ecology. As all attendees are passionate about owls, we are structuring the conference so that all attendees can hear all
presentations. As with prior conferences, we welcome attendees from all walks of life, educational backgrounds, and from all
corners of the world.
The World Owl Conference 2017 – Owls in Science and Society will take place at the university city of Évora, inside its
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, filled with historical buildings and surrounded by a breathtaking landscape – the perfect
combination of a large scientific conference and a great cultural experience.

Adopt an Owl
at The World
Owl Trust!
www.worldowltrust.org
Great Grey Owls Photo By Lisa Spiegelman
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7
What Burrows Beneath

A.Bucci Photography
The Underground
Burrowing Owl
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Description: The facial disc is pale brownish with prominent white eyebrows above the bright yellow eyes. The bill is greyish-olive
and the cere greyish-brown. There is a distinct whitish throat band. Upperparts are brown, with the forehead and
crown having whitish streaks and dots. Elsewhere is irregularly dotted whitish to pale ochre with relatively large, rounded
spots. Flight feathers are barred light and dark, and the tail is brown has 3-4 pale bars.
Underparts are whitish to pale buff with dense dusky brown bars. Tarsi are conspicuously long and sparsely feathered. The
olive-grey toes are bristled, and the claws are dark horn with blackish tips. Females are usually darker than the males.
Size: Length 19-28cm. Wing length 142-200mm. Tail length 64-114mm. Weight 147-240g. Females are larger and heavier
than males.
Habits: Burrowing owls generally active at dusk and dawn, but sometimes at night also. They are highly terrestrial, and are
often seen perched on a mound of dirt, telegraph or fence post - frequently on one foot. They bob up and down when
excited. Flight is with irregular, jerky wingbeats and they will frequently make long glides, interspersed with rapid wingbeats.
Burrowing Owls are comparatively easy to see because they are often active in daylight, and can be surprisingly bold and
approachable.
Voice: Burrowing Owls are very vocal, and have a wide range of different calls. The main song of the male is a hollow "cucuhooh"
which varies individually and according to the state of excitement of the bird. The female has a similar but slightly
higher-pitched call. Both sexes will give a chattering "kwekwekwekweeh" when alarmed, which can increase in volume to a
loud, harsh "jaket-jakaket... gowaeh-keket-gowaeh", or a wooden rattle similar to a rattlesnake. A screeching "chreeh-ketketket"
is also uttered in similar situations. A clucking "chee-gugugugugug" apparently has a contact function. If young are
disturbed at the nest, they will hiss, as well as make dry rattling sounds similar to a rattlesnake.
Hunting & Food: Burrowing Owls feed on a wide variety of prey, changing food habits as location and time of year determine
availability. Large arthropods, mainly beetles and grasshoppers, comprise a large portion of their diet. Small mammals,
especially mice, rats, gophers, and ground squirrels, are also important food items. Other prey animals include: reptiles and
amphibians, scorpions, young cottontail rabbits, bats, and birds, such as sparrows and horned larks. These Owls are quite
versatile in the ways they capture prey. They chase down grasshoppers and beetles on the ground, use their talons to catch
large insects in the air, or hover in mid-air before swooping down on unsuspecting prey. They also watch from perches,
then glide silently toward their target. Burrowing Owls are primarily active at dusk and dawn, but will hunt throughout a
24-hour period, especially when they have young to feed.
Breeding: The nesting season begins in late March or April. Burrowing Owls are usually monogamous but occasionally a
male will have 2 mates. Courtship displays include flashing white markings, cooing, bowing, scratching and nipping. The male
performs display flights - rising quickly, hovering for 5 to 10 seconds, then dropping. This sequence is repeated many times.
Circling flights also occur.
Burrowing Owls nest underground in abandoned burrows dug by mammals or if soil conditions allow they will dig their
own burrows. They will also use man made nest boxes placed underground. They often line their nest with an assortment
of dry materials. Adults usually return to the same burrow or a nearby area each year. One or more “satellite” burrows
can usually be found near the nest burrow, and are used by adult males during the nesting period and by juvenile owls for a
few weeks after they emerge from the nest. Burrowing Owls have been reported to nest in loose colonies. Such groupings
may be a response to a local abundance of burrows and food, or an adaptation for mutual defense. Colony members can
alert each other to the approach of predators and join in driving them off. During the nesting season, adult males forage
over a home range of 2 to 3 square km Ranges of neighbouring males may overlap considerably. A small area around the
nest burrow is aggressively defended against intrusions by other Burrowing Owls and predators.
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6 to 9 (sometimes up to 12) white eggs are laid a day apart, which are incubated for 28-30 days by the female only. The
male brings food to the female during incubation, and stands guard near the burrow by day. The care of the young while
still in the nest is performed by the male. At 14 days, the young may be seen roosting at the entrance to the burrow,
waiting for the adults to return with food. They leave the nest at about 44 days and begin chasing living insects when 49-
56 days old.
Mortality: Burrowing Owls are able to live for at least 9 years in the wild and over 10 years in captivity. They are often
killed by vehicles when crossing roads, and have many natural enemies, including larger Owls, hawks, falcons, badgers,
skunks, ferrets, armadillos, snakes, and domestic cats and dogs.
Habitat: Burrowing Owls are found in open, dry grasslands, agricultural and range lands, and desert habitats often
associated with burrowing animals, particularly prairie dogs, ground squirrels and badgers. They can also live in pinyon and
ponderosa pine habitats. They commonly perch on fence posts or on top of mounds outside the burrow.
Distribution: Burrowing Owls are present in North America, and breed across the grassland regions of southern
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They occur in all states west of the Mississippi Valley, breed south through the
western and mid-western States. A separate subspecies is found in Florida and the Caribbean Islands. They extend south
into Mexico, Central America and South America but populations have declined in many areas due to human-caused
habitat loss or alteration. Birds from the northern part of the U.S. and Canada are migratory.
Status: Uncertain. Locally frequent, but otherwise
rare.
Original Description: Molina, Giovanni Ignazio
[Juan Ignazio]. 1782. Saggio sulla storia naturale
del Chile (Saggio Storia Nat. Chile): p. 263.
References:
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.
Long, Kim. 1998. "Owls: A Wildlife Handbook".
Johnson Books.
Mikkola, Heimo. 2013. "Owls of the World: A Photographic
Guide (Second Edition)". Bloomsbury.
See also: Other owls from North America, Central
America, South America, Genus: Athene.
Page by Deane Lewis. Last updated 2015-11-30.
information for this page can be found at
www.owlpages.com

Photo By: Jeff Grotte

12

Owl News
Project Perch works to protect
burrowing owls
By Jan Engoren
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
June 27th 2017
www.sun-sentinal.com
The Audubon Society of the
Everglades will have its next meeting
July 11 to discuss Project Perch, a
Florida burrowing owl translocation
project. The owls are threatened
because of loss of habitat and other
manmade conditions and activities
that jeopardize their colonies.
Project Perch is working to stabilize and increase the burrowing owl populations in Southeastern Florida, principally through
passive attraction to nearby schools and parks, which the owls like for their wide-open space.
Crystal Lakes Elementary School in Boynton Beach provides habitat for the owls.
"We want to let people know the Florida burrowing owls have been moved from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission species of special concern to threatened last November," said Susan Davis, Project Perch coordinator for Palm Beach
County.
Burrows, owls and their eggs are protected from harassment and disturbance by state law.
“We’ve been losing burrowing owls from Palm Beach and Broward counties for some time,” she said, noting that historically
Broward County had the second largest population in the state after Lee County. The burrowing owl is one of the state’s smallest
owls at 9 inches tall with a 21-inch wingspan. Of 171 species of owls worldwide, it’s the only owl that lives underground. They have
long legs and a short tail, are mostly brown with numerous white or tan spots and have white eyebrows just above bright yellow
eyes.
“We want to find out where the owls are living and see how we can help them,” Davis said. “If they’re imperiled, we create artificial
burrows for them to live in.”
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"We want to find out where the owls are living and see how we can help them," Davis said. "If they're imperiled, we create
artificial burrows for them to live in."
In urban settings, burrowing owls often choose airports and school playgrounds as preferred habits, seeing them as wide-open
grasslands relatively free of predators and with ample opportunity for them to procure insects and other prey. The group
partners with South Florida Wildlife Center, Florida Wildlife Commission, area airports, homeowners, churches, parks, golf
courses and county schools to provide habitats. Speakers at the meeting will include Kelly Heffernan, an avian biologist and the
director or Project Perch; Renata Schneider, director of Wildlife Rehabilitation at the South Florida Wildlife Center; Paul Kragh, an
Owl Guardian and Project Perch coordinator in Broward County; and Mat Natali, wildlife biologist at Fort Lauderdale Airport.
"I started out in airports because a large part of it included doing something I enjoyed, namely observing birds and wildlife, as part
of an airport's Wildlife Hazard Assessment," Natali said in a statement.
Heffernan, who began the project in 2008, said the Florida burrowing owl is "a unique and captivating raptor. They are Florida's
homegrown, organic pesticide, eating everything we don't like. They are an essential part of our environment."
"They're very adaptable in an urban environment," she said. "We can create artificial burrows very inexpensively with PVC pipe
and $10 utility boxes. "It's up to us to save this native species. They don't fly or migrate anywhere else; they're ours to keep or
lose."
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments in rooms 101 and 102 at FAU Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 Summit
Blvd., in West Palm Beach. The meeting is free and open to everyone.
Visit Project Perch at owlslive.com. They are trying to find owl locations in Palm Beach County. Email susandavisdesign@gmail.
com.
What You Can Do To Help
• Install T-perches near owl burrows. Perches provide burrowing owls with an elevated view of the nest area, and also make the
burrows more visible to mowing machine operators. Many burrows collapse each year when mower tires pass near the burrow
entrance. If you put up perches, be sure to keep the grass and weeds trimmed low around the burrow to give the owls the
unobstructed view that they need to avoid predators.
• Restrict use of pesticides. Because burrowing owls feed on insects that are considered pests around homes, they are exposed
to the insecticides you use. Pesticides decrease and possibly contaminate food available to owls. Explore options other than using
pesticides, but if you continue to use them, do so with caution.
• Attracting owls to your lawn. Burrowing owls may dig burrows in sodded yards if vacant lots are scarce. To attract a pair, remove
a 1- to 2-foot circular plug of sod from the lawn. This exposes the sandy soil needed by the owls for burrowing. You might also
start the burrow and place a pile of loose sand near the mouth. Placing a T-perch near the burrow can help draw it to a pair's
attention.
• Report malicious destruction or harassment of burrowing owls or their nests to 888-404-3922.
jengoren@sun-sentinel.com
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15
Burrowing Owl Photo by:
Kelly Raymond

Cugat’s
Commentary from
the World Owl
Trust
By Ivan Ellis
Please note, Cugat did not actually write this, but
she could have done with good tuition in her early
life!!! Note that 'blue shirts' are volunteers and the
man in black is 'super volunteer' Cugat has done her
best to write good English, don't forget that she is
from Ethiopia]
Mmmm, what's this? Oh, it's the blue shirts and that
man in the black shirt; it must be early morning.
Here they go. They walk around looking at all the
aviaries where myself and other smaller owls live.
They will soon be coming into our aviaries and
taking out our 'pooh mats' and giving us clean ones.
That's good of them. They say something to us all
in their language. It probably means something important. Black shirt keeps coming in and out of our barn, I hope he
knows what he's doing. The blue shirts have got some peculiar machine working in that far corner. It seems to shoot
out water and cleans our soiled mats. Hey, they're doing a good job over there. The wet, and now clean, mats are
taken somewhere to dry. Can't quite see where but I suppose they know what they're doing. One blue shirt is moving
chairs and tables and then putting things on the tables. Mmmm looks interesting, pity I can’t get nearer to see exactly
what they’re up to.
Huh, they are now leaving the barn. I think they may have gone in search of food or drink. No doubt they will be back
soon.
Oh here they come. They have got that pale looking owl with them [Fidget, Barn Owl] and that browny one [Fudge,
Tawny Owl]. Lot’s of people also coming in behind them. They are sitting on the chairs, looking around at all the owls
in here and taking things from the table.
One blue shirt is holding the pale one, and another holds the brown one. Another blue shirt is giving things from the
table and taking something from the people, interesting. They all look happy. What’s this? Black shirt is saying things,
hopefully about us. Now people are taking photographs. Hey what about me? I’m here, and I’m beautiful too, take one
of me ....
Well that’s over, most of them have now gone and blue shirts are putting things away. [Actually sometimes there are
two talks, but Cugat can’t remember everything, bless her.] Ah, the lovely blue shirts are coming back now with our
food! They are super and I love them for this bit. When they leave it will go quite quiet again. Mmmm, good night
everyone. See you again soon.
[This interview with Cugat was taken down word for word, just as she said it. Blue Shirt]
16

126 E Cedar St. Houston, Minnesota, MN 55943 | (507) 896-6957 | www.InternationalOwlCenter.org
New Great Horned Owlets at the International
Owl Center
There are two new additions to the Great Horned Owl family at the International Owl Center in Houston, MN. Iris and Rusty,
longtime residents of the center, raised two owlets this year and their names are Sequoia and Sheldon. The Owl Center has been
making changes to the flight room win accordance to the new owls’ growth. Rusty, the father, has an eye injury and adaptations to
the aviary are also being made for him so he can see better at night.
The Owl Center has more resident owls. There is Piper, the Barn Owl, Uhu the Eurasian Eagle Owl, Alice a Great Horned Owl, and
Rupert and Ruby, also Great Horns. The Center has ongoing lectures and activities about owls as well as the Interntaional Festival
of Owls in March.

Owl Art Contest
photo By A.Bucci
The Owl Eye Magazine is having an Art Contest!
We know how much you love the incredible photography and art in our issues, so here is your chance to be a part of it. In
this issue, on page 36 you will find the poetry and photography of Sham Jolimie of Malaysia.
The contest requires that you paint or draw a piece of owl art inspired by this photograph that Sham has taken!
· You can use any medium, and the original peice can be any size,
· A digital version will be your entry.
Please send entries to: lisa@theowleyemagazine.com
The winning owl art piece (judged by Lisa, Sham, as well as guest art collector, Elias Martin) will receive their choice of gift from the
Owl Eye Shop as well as a print of the original owl photograph from Sham herself in Malaysia! Owl fans, get ready to create up a
storm! Of course, the winner will also be published in the Fall Issue of the Owl Eye Magazine. and gain exposure from being in the
primary owl only publication.
-Lisa Spiegelman
Editor, Creator, and Publisher of
The Owl Eye Magazine
18

The Owl Eye Magazine
Help Owls!
Shop
Some of you may already know from social media
announcements, but the Owl Eye Magazine has opened a new
website shop so you can easily find new and previous issues
of the magazine as well as carefully curated owl products! A
percent of proceeds from the purchases of anything in the
Owl Shop go to organizations that help owls. Here are some
of our new owl products!
Crystal Owl and Moon Pin
This is a stunningly sparkly pin with your
choice of either silver plated metal with a blue
crystal owl or rose plated metal with a dark
grey crystal owl. Either way, this special owl
will dress up any outfit and show your love for
owls.
www.theowleyemagazine.com
Howlite Stretch Owl Bracelet
This popular bracelet design is great for
everyday wear and a great addition to
your stretch bracelet collection.
www.theowleyemagazine.com
19

Owl Moon Spirit Guide Men’s Tee Shirt
If the owl is your spirit guide, this shirt is
for you! Or if you just love owls, show your
support to helping our favorite bird of prey.
www.theowleyemagazine.com
Owl Scarf
When the cooler weather hits, break
out this Autumn colored scarf to
block the chill. It comes in three color
combos.
www.theowleyemagazine.com
Help support owls with your purchases at the Owl Eye Magazine Shop!
www.theowleyemagazine.com

Burrowing Owls by:
Kelly Raymond

21

OWLS
The Secret Birds, named for his series of paintings by the same
title, is Tony Fitzpatrick's collection of work inspired by the
iconography of birds. Following a successful quadruple bypass
surgery in January 2015, Fitzpatrick muses on mortality and a life
spent traveling, collecting, and telling stories.
Tony Fitzpatrick's work is collected by the Museum of Modern
Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and the
National Museum of American Art in Washington, DC. Before
making a living as an artist, Fitzpatrick worked as a radio host,
bartender, boxer, construction worker, and film and stage actor.
You can find it here on Amazon.com
This new illustrated book of Owls will be at the
Festival of owls of Grazzano Visconti, 2/3/4 June
2017! Get your copy here!
http://www.martincambriglia.com/prodotto/
gufolario-libro-illustrato/
Follow us on Facebook for more illustrative
updates. Martin Studio

Northern Ireland’s only
Owl, Bird of Prey &
Exotic Animal Centre
The primary aim of the “World of Owls” is to ensure the
survival of owls throughout the world
This objective will be achieved by rescue,
conservation, education, research and
restoration of their natural habitat.
World of Owls is a registered charity NIC100938
“World of Owls” hopes to bring people, young and old, from
all sections of the community to a beautiful location where
they can be shown the need for conservation by one of
nature’s most wonderful creatures. The education program
of the “World of Owls” is designed to facilitate the National
Curriculum’s key stages in order to help Northern Ireland’s
younger generation learn about a range of topics including
environmental and ecological issues.
Objectives:
Northern Irelands Premier Owl, Bird of Prey and Exotic
Animal Conservation Centre
Working to benefit education and conservation for
Northern Ireland
Dedicated and fully trained voluntary staff
World of Owls is open within the very beautiful
Randalstown Forest.
Boobook Owl image from WOO site: www.worldofowls.com
All the animals at World of Owls have been
rescued, some of them from some really horrible
places and situations.
World of Owls has the most diverse species
collection of owls in the UK and Ireland.
Please visit our site at:
www.worldofowls.com
we could use your help! 23

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Burroing Owl By A.Bucci Photography

Owl Art
Moon Night -Owl
© Kentaro Nishino/D. Parks and
Associates LLC www.Art-Licensing.com

WaysideBoutique Art Gallery by Yui
Owl Spirit no.2
Watercolor on paper 7.5x 11"

28
Owl Watercolor Painting by
Sohn Ken

The Art of James Browne
The Art of James Browne Facebook
29

BirdBrain
The Owl Eye delves
into...
The Art of
Tony Fitzpatrick

Tony Fitzpatrick
Tony Fitzpatrick Studio Visit
1513 N. Western
Chicago, IL
July 27th 2017
Walking into Tony Fitzpatrick’s studio is like traveling back to a different time and place in Chicago. A time of an
older Chicago, the gritty time of gangsters, cultural diverseness, and a time when artists didn’t have to be from a prestigious
school - but created out of a vision that only they could see, a culmination unique to their being and experience. As I walk
into the main working space, Tony is appropriately drawing what seems to look like a cross between a Great Horned Owl
and an Eagle Owl for a new piece. I ask him what got him started drawing birds. He told me that his father had had a heart
attack when he was very young and his grandmother took him and all of his seven siblings in to help care for them with his
mother, and she would throw pieces of bread out the door for the birds. As an Irish Catholic family living in Chicago, Tony
said they were not fond of wasting food. They were not poor, mind you, but with eight grandchildren, food was still not to be
wasted. Tony asked her the reason for this, his grandmother responded, “For a piece of bread you can hear God sing”. And
since then, Tony has been completely enchanted by birds, as messagners between worlds.
We move into the gallery space of the studio where large paintings of Tony’s work and other artits work were displayed. One
of his assistats brings us water, and I notice from our introduction that she has a peice hanging on the wall as well. She is an
artist from Moscow.
We naturally start talking about owls. Tony has seen many owls in nature, which is a rare thing indeed! Screech owls, Saw-
Whet owls, Great Horned Owls. He believes that owls are the messangers from whatever is beyond this life. In many cultural
myths, owls are associated with being messengers of death or just vile creatures. Tony and I both agree of course, that this
should not be the case, and owls, as observers of nature and the world around them, should be revered as creatures of
another world, here to teach us.
Tony learned a lot from his Screech owl, named Oliver, when he was a child. Oliver was a baby owl just learning how to
fly and branching when Tony and his sister found him on the ground. As an owl expert and reporter, I must include here
that this is not a recommened practice and not legal today, and baby owls should be left along to figure out how to fly by
themselves. However, as the story unfolds, Tony kept the baby owl and had him in his care for four years before bringing
Oliver to a wildlife faciltiy where they integrated him back into his natural habitat. In those years, Tony says he leraned from
Oliver to observe, to shut the hell up and look around, and to search. Some of Tony’s favorite owls are The Great Horned
owls, Saw-Whet owls, and Great Grey owls.
Tony is an avid birdwatcher and travels around the US watching and photographing birds, mostly so he can use them in
his pieces. I ask him what determines the objects in his pieces, since they are so complex, and at times political. He says, “I
determine what does not belong in the pieces first. “
Tony creates a lot of art for music album covers, but many of his works also express a politcal statement. Such as a duo of
pieces that address the Isreali/Palestine issue in the Middle East. Both have illustrated birds found in both areas of Isreal and
Palestine (since birds don’t regard political borders) and have “Peace be with you” in both Hebrew and Arabic - on their
respecitve pieces. He is also a string advocate for the environemnt, and donates to wildlife causes. In this respect, of course,
we agree and I tell him that the message of the Owl Eye is to educate and help donate to owl organizations that help owls
with breeding programs and helping them to survive climate change and political/ human interruption.
All artwork on these pages, previous and forthcoming, are by Tony Fitzpatrick
31

One of Tony’s favorite owl pieces is the “Nocturn
for Those Who Died Waiting for Five O’clock”. The story
behind this goes, as a young boy in Catholic school, one of
the nuns noticed that no one was paying attention to her
lecture. She closed the book and told the class that they
needed to decide who they were going to be in life, and
not to let life just happen to them, waiting for five o’clock
to come around and curse about what is happening in the
world. The message being: Be who you want the world to be.
I asked Tony how he “made it big” in the art scene.
“In New York, he says. I followed a girl, a strumpet, ( I
still can’t believe he used that word!) to New York and
barteneded. I sold my work in Washington Square Park
when a well known gallery owner spotted me and invited
me to show his work at the gallery.” Tony had no idea who
the gallery owner was at the time, but his exhibition was
so successful there, he did another one, and soon other
galleries were asking for his work as well.
Tony signing my copy of “The Scret Birds”
Prague and Luxumbourg in the later part of this year.
Since then Tony’s work is saught by collectors and museums
such as MOMA, New York, Art Institute of Chicago, and
Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami. Through his art
connections, Tony also has starred in films and is currently
in The Patriot - a series by Amazon. Being a film actor, he
enjoys some international travel. He is touring France,
As we are talking, Tony gives me one of his books, “The Secret Birds” and signs it for me, a very generous gesture, to which I
am incredibly grateful. The book has great insight to Tony’s life and the way he sees the world, with a lot of added dark sarcastic
humor, of which I am a fan. I highly recommend seeking it out to enjoy his writing and illustrations. You can find it on amazon.
com.
All in all I would say that meeting Tony was definitely like meeting another owl loving soul. As my friend, Elias Martin said, “Bird
people are a little different than other animal loving people”. And at first I thought, hmm, they are? But then as I ponder my
discussion with Tony I realize maybe he’s right. Birds signify flight, and a being of transcendence of the soul. Birds are the envy of
humans, as we copy their mechanics to try to understand the art of navigating the sky. But we are not them, we wil never be
them, we can only observe them, shut the hell up and keep searching.
Tony is working on an all owl piece book.
Keep watching for details on it’s release
in upcoming issues!
Panoramic view of Tony’s Studio. He was working on
the owl drawing on the desk when I walked in, a very
appropriate scene.
33

Tony Fitzpatrick

Little Owl
When I hold your gaze
The turmoil of my mind
Goes quiet
The wretchedness of the world
Is held at bay
There is magic and wonder
And simple silent bliss
Little owl
You are perched on my heart
I hold you dear
like an enchanting memory
Moonlight dances on your wings
The touch of your feathers
Soothe my tired soul
- Sham Jolimie
36

Photo By Sham Jolimie

38

Burrowing Owl Photo By
Erik Berg

The ORI’s Research News on
Boreal Owls
The Boreal Owl
Boreal Owl. Within North America, Boreal Owls were
once thought to nest only in Canada. However, surveys in
the 1980s and review of the historical literature suggested
otherwise. Today, we know that this species is found
throughout the west in high elevation spruce-fir forests from
Alaska to New Mexico. There is also evidence they breed in
northeastern Canada, and perhaps northern Maine. Like the
Northern Saw-whet Owl, most breeding biology information
comes from nest box studies.
Measurements of Breeding Female Boreal Owls
We share the same concerns about our Boreal Owl nest
box study as those highlighted for Northern Saw-whet
Owls. Although interesting, our data may not reflect natural
distribution or other aspects of their biology (such as mating
system), due to the artificial establishment of nest boxes.
However, nest boxes are used with some predictability,
and afford easy access for monitoring and data collection
for specific questions, such as growth rates and plumage
development.
First Year Breeders
Older (at least 2)
Total
Number
Banded
9
18
27
Avg. Wing
Chord
(mm)
165
172
169
Avg. Tail
Length
(mm)
109
109
112
Avg. Body
Mass
(g)
190
184
186
For more information on owl research from the
Owl Research Institute, please visit :
www.owlinstitute.org
The ORI is a non-profit, 50 l(c) 3, tax-exempt organization.
We are funded by individual and non-profit group donations,
grants from foundations and corporations, and occasionally
agency contracts. Please consider us in your estate planning. We
accept donations of real property, stocks, bonds, mutual funds,
life insurance policies, and gift annuities. Donations are taxdeductible
to the extent of the law. We ask for funding once per
year. We hope you make your investment today. Our federal tax
identification number is 81-0453479.
Boreal Owl Chick from The Roost Publication by the ORI
40

Photo By Jeff Grotte
41

Owl Workshops
Wild Planet Nature Tours
Hosted by the Owl Research Institute
We began offering birding and natural history
tours in 2006 in Montana, Wyoming, Alaska,
Mexico, and Guatemala. Our tours are oriented
toward birds, but include information about all
aspects of natural history including mammals,
plants, reptiles and amphibians, butterflies, geology,
and even constellations. We are passionate about
our field techniques, the educational undertone
of our tours, our commitment to a low-impact
philosophy with respect to wildlife, and our ability
to have fun. We design our tours as though we,
ourselves, are participating in them, and we hope
that every participant has an enjoyable trip. Lastly,
we make every effort to keep group sizes smaller
than 10 people, as we feel this enriches the
experience for each individual.
If you have any questions about the pace of our
tours, reservation information, guides, or travel
arrangements, please send an email to courtney@
wildplanetnaturetours.com.
If you have questions for the guides about wildlife
species or specific questions regarding a tour
please email info@wildplanetnaturetours.com
Long-Eared Owl Montana Workshop
Barrow Alaska Snowy Owl Workshop
42

Hoo Knew?
Crazy Interesting Owl Facts
Long-eared owls have been known to roost in trees,
especially during the winter months. Sometimes up to 100
birds can be found together. Most owls, including the longeared
owl, are known for being solitary creatures, so this
phenomenon is especially unusual. A group of owls is called
a Parliament. (Wikipedia and Hungry Owl Project)
Long eared owl from Wikipedia
African Marsh Owls have been known to fake a wing injury
in order to distract predators off from their chicks in the
nest. This owl is found in the marshlands of Africa and
Madagascar.
(Info taken from TYTO - the newsletter from the
International Owl Society.)
African Marsh Owl wikipedia.com
43

Owl Myth and Lore
What people think of owls around
the world...
France - Versailles
Aesop’s Fable of The Owl and the Birds is depicted on this table from the Apartments of Madame du Barry in
Versailles, France. The table was made by Martin Carlin and it explains the “mobbing” action of smaller birds to larger birds of prey,
namely owls. Thie Owl is called the Grand Duc in French, and in English is known as a Eurasian Eagle Owl.
From the Apartments of Madame du Barry in Versailles
image: art.com
Information Credit: Shamma Esoof
44

The Owl and the Birds
When the acorn first began to sprout, an owl, in her wisdom, counseled the birds to pull it up by all means out of the
ground and not allow it to grow. It would, said she, produce the mistletoe from which a bird poison would be extracted, by
which they would be captured.
The owl next advised them to pluck up the seed of the flax that men had sown, as it was a plant that brought no good to
them.
Lastly the owl, seeing an archer approach, predicted that this man, being on foot, would contrive darts armed with feathers,
which should fly faster than the wings of the birds themselves.
The birds gave no credence to these warning words, but considered the owl to be beside herself and said that she was mad.
But afterwards, finding her words were true, they wondered at her knowledge and deemed her to be the wisest of birds.
Hence it is that when she appears they flock to her as knowing all things; while she no longer gives them advice, but in
solitude laments their past folly.
aesopsfables.org
Nuestra Señ ora de la Santa Muerte -
Mexico
Our Lady of Holy Death is the Mexican Catholic deity of the
personification of Death from the continuation of the Aztec
goddess of death Mictecacihuatl or Mictlancihuatl. (Wikipedia).
She has a variety of powers including: love, prosperity, good health,
fortune, healing, safe passage, protection against witchcraft, against
assaults, against gun violence, against violent death. Protection of
various jobs and outcasts.
She is depicted with an Owl.
Wikipedia.org
santamuerte.org
45

A DreamID Graphics Publication 2017
www.dreamidgraphics.com
dreamofyourid@gmail.com
Hide ‘n Seek
Eastern Screech Owl By Jessie Fries
Saw Whet Owl by Jessie Fries