X, Hedwig, and the Gilfillan Owlets Mary Lynne Spazok
What do X, Hedwig, and the owlets have in common? They are all legendary owls that have heightened our awareness of these creatures. In the TV fantasy world of make believe, X the Owl lives in an oak tree in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. With a cheeky sense of humor, he welcomes all with his signature greeting “Well, how in the world are you, neighbor? It’s nifty gallifty to have you visit.” Kindhearted, X is a loyal friend, his favorite color is blue, and he is keen on becoming more wise. An exemplary role model, X is enrolled at the Owl Correspondence School. Another famous owl is Harry Potter’s Hedwig, a gift to Harry on his 11th birthday. The white snowy owl is not native to Britain, but was used for the Harry Potter films due to its noble demeanor, outstanding color, and power to captivate audiences. In the sorcerers’ England, young wizards communicated via owl messenger. For young Harry, this magical creature was also a loving pet and devoted companion. The Gilfillan owlets… who are they? Not an oldies singing group or glitzy dance troupe, owlets are baby barn owls eager to “feather a nest” in the farmstead’s newest preservation effort, the barn owl nesting box. Scientists believe that the barn owl originated as a cliff dweller in Europe’s towering clay caves. Over time, the birds migrated naturally or were kept as pets by lonely sailors of the high seas, only to escape. Highly independent, the barn owl of Europe (Tyto alba alba) spread throughout the known continents (except Antarctica) and evolved into the North American barn owl (Tyto alba pratincola). Being cavity nesters, these birds often prefer vertical walls of manmade structures over trees—thus the barn owl nesting box. Superstitions that surround owls have a long history. Nocturnal, owls often appear in horror mysteries associated with dark, bloodcurdling nighttime themes. The barn owl’s piercing cry enhances its spooky effect. Ancient folklore of many countries suggest that an owl’s screech is thought to echo the cackle of a witch. Their wide staring eyes afford a shrewd appearance, while the ability to rotate their heads seems wicked, indeed. For some species, tuffs of feathers on the head convey the appearance of a horned devil. Owls can have quite a hold on one’s imagination.
Are owls wise? Their ability to see in the dark has elevated them to symbols of wisdom. In Greek mythology, the owl was coupled with Athena, the goddess of Wisdom. In fact, the city of Athens is named after Athena and its emblem is the owl. In Western folklore, owls are classically associated with studious scholars and wise elders. Whether roosting near the big barn or at other smaller outbuildGilfillan’s Barn Owl nesting box ings, the owls have found a perfect barn owl habitat at Gilfillan Farm with its open areas, grassy fields, wet meadows, and plethora of food, including meadow voles, shrews, and large insects. The barn owl is easily identifiable by its white heart-shaped facial disk, lack of ear tufts, and long, feathered legs. While it appears white from below and golden brown from above, both male and female barn owls have scattered black specks. Choosing only one mate, they are not aggressive toward other barn owls and will roost within a half mile of other pairs. Eggs are laid and surrounded by adult generated brownish-black pellets composed of regurgitated fur and bone fragments. At birth, the chicks are covered with ultra-fine feather down. In a short eight to ten weeks, they molt, causing adult-like plumage to appear. Hungry chicks require food continually. With keen night vision and acute hearing, the owl parent (usually the male) hunts for voles, shrews, and rats that scurry along vacant pathways. An owl has unique feathers and combs on its wings that muffle the sound of air rushing by. Its heart-shaped face contour acts as a satellite dish. It flies in an eerie silence—the rodent can’t hear the owl, but the owl can hear the rodent and also sense its exact location. Outstretched, talons first, the owl lands directly on the rodent, cracking its neck with a twist of its beak. Ravenous, a single family of barn owls can consume over 1000 pocket gophers and vermin during their three-month nesting period. Dusk, midnight, and dawn are among the best times to observe the barn owl “on the wing.”
The Owl in the Tree I saw an owl He sat in a tree He opened one eye He winked at me
Owlets
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UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
White Snowy Owl
Summer 2013