As the bright Wolf Moon spread shadows across our farm and frigid air settled along the Colorado Front Range, a pair of great horned owls arrived to serenade one another. After all, this is their mating season and they are oblivious of the winter chill.
Having settled in large trees just outside of our bedroom window last night, they hooted for twenty minutes before flying off; even then, I could hear their deep calls in the distance. The most widespread owl in North America, great horned owls have adapted to all natural habitats except Arctic tundra, feasting primarily on small mammals (mice, rabbits, skunk, opossums) but also large birds and snakes. They generally select the abandoned nest of a hawk, crow or magpie into which up to five eggs are laid (2-3 is typical).
These aggressive hunters may be primarily responsible for the cottontail crash on our Littleton farm but they are welcome anytime, especially on cold winter nights.
Having settled in large trees just outside of our bedroom window last night, they hooted for twenty minutes before flying off; even then, I could hear their deep calls in the distance. The most widespread owl in North America, great horned owls have adapted to all natural habitats except Arctic tundra, feasting primarily on small mammals (mice, rabbits, skunk, opossums) but also large birds and snakes. They generally select the abandoned nest of a hawk, crow or magpie into which up to five eggs are laid (2-3 is typical).
These aggressive hunters may be primarily responsible for the cottontail crash on our Littleton farm but they are welcome anytime, especially on cold winter nights.
