There is nothing quite like being outside in the dark on a chilly night, surrounded by nature, and hearing the call of a lone owl echoing through the trees. It might be a little eerie at first, but we believe it provides a feeling of enchantment and mystery that can’t be matched. Unfortunately, the mysterious nature and nocturnal tendencies of owls lead them to be called “bad omens” or seen as spooky. This Halloween, we’re sharing why owls should be celebrated as amazing – and not frightening – animals of the Eno.
Owls are known for their large, rounded heads with forward-facing eyes and sharply hooked beaks. One reason owls may be seen as spooky is their ability to fly almost silently through the night sky. Flying quietly at night makes owls excellent nocturnal hunters, and they have developed several wing adaptations that make them silent.
Owl wings have a larger surface area than most other birds, which enables them to fly more slowly and without flapping as much. Less flapping means less noise!
The flight feathers of owls have serrated, comb-like edges which are thought to reduce aerodynamic disturbances by breaking turbulence down into smaller currents.
The noise coming from those smaller currents of air is then further dampened by the soft and velvety texture on the surface of the flight feathers. Ultimately, the air moving past their wings is broken up and absorbed in an incredibly streamlined and effective process.
Do you think it’s creepy when an owl turns its head around? It’s actually necessary for owls to see! Owls can turn their heads approximately 270 degrees in each direction. They have 14 neck vertebrae (double the number humans have!) and adaptations to keep their blood flowing, which allows for a lot of neck flexibility. Without these adaptations, owls wouldn’t be able to find their food – their eyes are fixed in their sockets and can’t move around like ours.
Have you heard a barred owl? You might recognize their 8 to 9-note calls by imagining the owl saying “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?”
You can find three types of owls around the Eno River Basin: eastern screech owl, barred owl, and great horned owl. Barred owls are the most common due to their preference for wetland habitats. Like most owls, barred owls are more active at night, although they can be heard calling during daylight hours on cloudy days.
They are opportunistic predators, hunting animals as large as opossums and as small as salamanders and insects. They are also known to hunt a wide range of bird species, including eastern screech owls! Barred owls can also serve as prey for great horned owls and larger mammals like raccoons.
Fortunately, all three species of owls that can be found within the Eno River Basin have relatively stable populations and are listed as “Least Concern” in terms of conservation status. However, like many of our native wildlife species, owls face threats including vehicle collisions, habitat loss, and climate change. These beautiful, magical, and important creatures need to be spoken for and protected to ensure populations can thrive for generations to come. To learn more about our native owl species, check out these links: Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl
