Some SMESL Critters Barred Owl

The Barred Owl is known as the “Hoot Owl” Has horizontal stripes on the neck and chest Vertical bars on the stomach Has bars on the wings and tail

The eyes Brown Set in front which aids in depth perception A yellow beak No ear tuffs Ears can be offset, one higher than the other –Helps with locating source of sound.

Well Armed Beak like a can opener Kills with talons

Feathers Soft Front edge is serrated The back, or trailing edge is frilled Allows them to fly soundlessly

Classification Class – Aves Order – Stigiformes Genus and species Strix varia

Characteristics Feathers – protect Warm blooded – metabolism rate? Lays eggs Respiratory – air sacs Skeleton – less bones and bones are hollow

Most birds can see color

Some Facts Nocturnal – what does this mean? Eat skunks – sense of smell? Why? –eeeewwwwwwwwwww! Mate for life.

Female and Male Female is larger Male is 20” tall and weight about 1 ½ lbs Female is 24” tall and weight about 2 lbs

Do not migrate Territory about 1 square mile We have a mated pair on the SMESL

Nesting Mate in Feb/Mar Lat 1-2 round, white eggs several days apart Female incubates for 1 month Male brings food to her. Babies hatch several days apart

Babies Babies hatch several days apart Covered in white down Female stays in nest for 1 month after the chicks hatch to keep them warm Male brings food Live 10 years

What do they eat? Carnivores Eat mice, voles and other small animals They swallow the mice and voles whole. Tear larger animals such as rabbits or squirrels into pieces Hunt from a perch Pellets about 6-8 hours later.

Pellet

What eats them? Great horned owl Sometimes hit by cars Sometimes shot by hunters. –Very illegal

Barred vs. Great Horned Owl

Fun Facts Down feathers can be pink – Why? –Eat crayfish Call sounds like “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you?”