Culturally and spiritually, they have evoked a wide range of emotions and respect. They

are feared as symbols of death, and destruction, and associated with evil, fear, and darkness. They are also icons of wisdom and strength. They are seen as messengers, signs of hope, and liaisons between the spiritual and physical worlds. They have fascinated and baffled scientists, entertained and amazed birdwatchers, and they live here, amongst us, along the Highway 68 corridor. Owls. 

There are over 250 species worldwide, with more than seven living in Monterey County. Those that live locally range in size from the iconic great horned owl (up to 25 inches tall) to the mountain pigmy owl (up to 6.7 inches). Indeed, owls come in different sizes and are identified by their variation in eye color, feather color, presence of ear tufts, hunting behavior, and vocalization. Not all owls hoot! Barn owls, for example, have a harsh, raspy screech—you can sometimes hear them as the sun goes down. Barks, whistles, and hisses are also common owl sounds.

Owls are birds of prey, deadly night predators, equipped to hunt. Their wing feathers have serrated edges that channel wind and dampen sound, which is further quieted by their velvety texture. They also have relatively large wing spans, allowing for more gliding and less wing flapping. Together, this allows an almost silent fight, which is less distracting to the owl as well as undetectable by their prey. They have asymmetrical hearing: ears in slightly different locations on either side of their head, allowing pin-point detection of sound. The barn owl has the best hearing of any animal tested, and it is able to hone in on mice in complete darkness just by picking up on sound. Much like our own, their eyes are positioned to each see at the same time, creating a single, crisp 3D image and providing incredible depth perception. And while they cannot move their eyes within the socket, owls can rotate their head 270 degrees. They have large talons and a toe that rotates backward or forwards. These stealthy hunters prey on rodents, frogs, snakes, birds, rabbits, squirrels, and others.

Owls are mostly nocturnal and active, mainly at night, for hunting. Our local short-eared owl can be seen by day, but most are out and about as the sun goes down and into the night. I recently learned of an owl-watching tip, which was explained to me by a friend and avid bird watcher. While an owl’s call can carry for miles, an owl can also be much closer than it sounds, particularly in a dense oak or pine forest. If you hear an owl, move toward the sound. It may sound far, but it is likely much closer than you think. It is very difficult to find an owl while on the move, so stop. Scan up the tree trunk, then systematically scan the length of a branch. If you don’t see the owl, scan back to the trunk, up, and then out the next branch. Repeating this process is a great way to find owls.

Building an owl box in your yard is a great way to attract owls. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s website provides a wealth of knowledge about birds, and here, you can find tips about building the right box for the species of owl you are trying to attract. Before doing so, though, there are a few things to consider that might suggest your yard is not an ideal site. Many owls eat rodents; as such, they are prone to poisoning from ingested rodenticides. If you or your neighbors use such products, your home is not a good place to attract owls. Busy roads are another consideration, as well as small pets that might be considered prey. Lastly, consider the lighting around your home. They like the dark.