Last night I was awakened by an unusual sound. This was not a dream I assure you because my dog Hope heard it too. The time was 2:45 am and the call of an owl was not too far from my bedroom window. Although Indiana has 13 varieties of owls, I believe I was listening to a Great Horned Owl, a protected species.
The Great Horned Owl has just finished its very long breeding season from February through August according to the Indiana Audubon Society. After breeding season, the females look to establish nesting areas to prepare for the young that start being born in February.
Did you know that the Great Horned Owl has a wingspan of 4 to 5 feet and can fly almost in total silence to attack its prey while using powerful wing flaps? In fact, the owl’s specially shaped feathers break up turbulent air resulting in silent flight. Along with silent flight due to the large wingspan relative to its body mass, the owl can fly at a very slow speed if desired. At about 2 miles per hour, this lessens flight noise allowing the owl to find prey quite easily.
A Great Horned Owl cannot move its eyes in its sockets but can move its head 270 degrees. The myth that they can move their heads all the way around is not true. Did you also know that they are one of the one of the only predators that a skunk has? The reason is that some owls, including the great horned owl, are not affected much by the foul odor produced by the skunk.
The Great Horned Owl only weighs about 3 to 4 pounds but with its great talon strength and flying ability, it can pick up animals much heavier than the owl itself.
For those interested, there are owl watch nights in several places in Indiana including Eagle Creek State Park. For information on owl watch nights, contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources or Eagle Creek State Park.