Walker Nature Center
A LOOK INSIDE • Calendar 4 • Kids’ Corner 6 • Green Living 7 • Open House 8
BRANCHING OUT
Nature Notes DECEMBER The Mysterious Owls of Reston By Sharon Gurtz
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Spotted Wintergreen and Partridgeberry are evergreen on the forest floor.
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Look for Hermit Thrushes, Kinglets and Brown Creepers in the woods.
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Starlings form flocks.
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American Hollies have red berries.
JANUARY •
Raccoons breed.
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Robins forage in flocks.
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Look for Bald Eagles and wintering waterfowl on Reston’s lakes.
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Great Horned Owls begin to breed.
FEBRUARY •
Red Fox are mating.
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Spring Peepers begin to call.
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Daffodils and Crocuses begin blooming.
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First squirrel babies of the year are born.
By Susan Sims
Owls have been associated with various myths and stories throughout history. Viewed as signs of intuition, wisdom and even portents of bad luck, humans have long been fascinated with this bird of prey. But what is the reality? Owls aren’t particularly smarter than other birds, but they do have very keen senses that could make them seem magical. As for the bad luck? Only if you’re a rodent!
Owls are part of a group of birds referred to as birds of prey. Birds of prey are predatory birds that have keen vision, strong talons for gripping food and a curved beak designed for tearing meat. Owls hunt primarily at night, which means they have great eyesight and hearing to find meals in the dark! These super senses are only two of the many adaptations that owls have developed to survive. Their feathers are nearly silent, allowing them to zip through their habitats and capture prey without making a sound. However, quiet wings don’t mean they aren’t vocal.
Who Cooks for You All?
Reston’s most common owl is the Barred Owl (Strix varia). It calls from the woods with a sound like “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” It’s a large owl with front facing, expressive brown eyes. They are generally gray to brown feathered with darker barring down the chest in vertical stripes. Their upper parts are mottled gray and brown. Their wingspan is 3.5 feet, or about the height of an average 5-year-old!
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Winter | 18/19 | Volume Twenty One