Who Was in the Tree?

—Jeni Casinelli, Environmental Educator

About two months ago, I was out on a walk with a group of preschool ecology children, when my co-teacher pointed out that the crows were making quite a commotion in the woods. He quickly told the children that it meant there must be either an owl or hawk not too far away, perhaps sitting a tree. With the children, we hiked toward the squawking crows, highly interested in what we might see. 

As we walked, I thought for sure it would be a red-tailed hawk. It was 10 a.m. on a bright, sunny day and it couldn't possibly be an owl. As we approached, the children and I watched as the crows dive-bombed this outline in the tree. As we moved closer to the white pine tree, to my surprise, perched on a branch was a great horned owl.

While I had seen these owls in captivity at other nature centers and conservancies, it was amazing to see one in the wild. She must have been almost two feet tall as she looked down on us with her keen, powerful, and yellow eyes.

This moment lasted no more than 30 to 60 seconds before she took flight, displaying her 4.5 foot wingspan in the opposite direction.

For days, I couldn't get this moment out of my head as I thought about the power these creatures contain at a mere 3 to 4 pounds in weight. Great horned owls will remain perched in a tree as they use their sharp eyesight and hearing to search for food below, including mice, rabbits, rats, skunks and even small birds. They can hear the smallest mouse moving through the forest at up to 900 feet away. Once they choose their prey, they dive silently, then snatch and kill their prey with up 30 pounds of force from their sharp talons.

As I think of all the spectacular adaptations that great horned owls have for their survival, it reminds me how amazing nature is and how as humans we are only a miniscule part of it. I feel so lucky that I was part of that moment and will continue to look in the trees for these magnificent creatures each day when I walk the grounds at the Nature Center.

I now encourage you to come and take a walk through our trails whether it is alone, with the whole family or just a friend and enjoy the wonderful world around us.