Owls:
Our Amazing,
Mysterious
Neighbors
Photo of barn owl by Jack Kotz
P
By Chris Sudell
erhaps Kiawah’s most mysterious residents are
its owls. Denizens of the dark, these elusive
creatures are rarely seen though their haunting
calls may be heard penetrating the still of the
night. In other cultures, their secretive ways have made them
bad omens; in ours, owls have long symbolized wisdom. But
ornithologists tell us that crows and parrots are far more
intelligent. So how did owls become known for intellectual
prowess? Perhaps it’s from their association with Athena, the
Greek goddess of reason, who was often pictured with an
owl by her side. Or, it might be based on their appearance:
with large eyes that stare straight ahead, owls simply look
intelligent.
Even if their reputation for a high IQ is not particularly
accurate, owls remain fascinating creatures with some
amazing abilities. Their hearing is so acute that they can
discern the noise of a mouse stepping on a twig 75 feet away!
Usually nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk),
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owls’ large, stationary eyes enable them to use whatever light
is available. They compensate for their inability to move their
eyes by twisting their heads 270 degrees in either direction.
These remarkable birds also have soft-edged, serrated feathers
that smooth out air turbulence and enable them to glide
silently through the air, sweeping down on their prey without
being heard. Powerful feet and sharp talons further increase
their hunting skills.
All owls share a variety of additional traits, including a face
with a flat, disk-like feature surrounding the bill and eyes.
Unlike most birds, males and females of each type of owl
are similar in appearance, though females are often larger.
Usually monogamous, in some species, a breeding pair stays
together only for the season while in others pairs bond for
life. These “opportunistic” nesters use such existing sites as
the abandoned nests of other birds, nesting boxes, crevices in
trees, or, particularly in the case of the barn owl, abandoned
structures. Eggs are usually laid over a span of several days
Naturally Kiawah