A New Generation of Great Horned Owls is About to Hatch
As we noted in our very first WPC Daily (See January 1 entry), great horned owls have already layed their eggs. Their young are about to hatch in early March.
Great horned owls are sometimes known as hoot owls, cat owls or winged tiger and its plumage is a mixture of reddish brown with grey, black and white. The underside is a light grey with dark bars and a white band of feathers on the upper breast. They have large, staring yellow-orange eyes, bordered in most races by an orange-buff facial disc. The name is derived from tufts of feathers that appear to be "horns" which are sometimes referred to as "ear tufts" but have nothing to do with hearing at all. The large feet are feathered to the ends of the toes, and the immature birds resemble the adults. Females are 10 to 20 percent larger than males.
This large owl is found in almost all parts of Pennsylvania, but favors areas where forests are interspersed with open habitats.The above photo was taken by WPC President Larry Schweiger at the State
College State Gamelands 176 and shows an adult (pictured left) with a
juvenile (right) about to fly. You can still see some remnants of down
on the juvenile.
Ways
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy works to
protect wildlife habitat.