Ask a Naturalist: What's going on with those owls?

Discovery Place Nature

Tbox 208

A couple of feathered friends have recently returned to the Museum.

A nesting pair of barred owls (Strix varia) has been hanging out close to the Back Deck and on the boardwalk. They are less afraid of people than owls typically are and have caused quite a stir.

The male owl has come so close as to sit on the border of our Back Deck and was the only one we were seeing for quite some time.

One night while I was closing Fort Wild, I noticed another barred owl. I knew she was different because the plastic line of a transmitter was pointing out from her back. This device does not harm the bird and she does not appear to notice it.

After calling the rest of the staff to take a look at the second owl, we decided to see if we could find out more about this pair.

Our director, Marvin Bouknight, contacted Professor Aaron Kampe at UNC Charlotte, who had worked with another professor on tagging local barred owls to learn more about their nesting habits and places. Kampe said that he believes the tagged owl is Rosa, the daughter of a male named Gnat that has been in our area for a while. Her transmitter does not work anymore so we are not able to track where she is going.

Pretty soon, we might be seeing owlets poking their heads out of the nest or even walking around the area.

Although our first instinct is to worry when we see baby birds on the ground, it is very common for them to leave the nest at a certain age and explore. They may not even have their flight feathers yet so they cannot fly but are healthy and safe. Their parents will even feed them on the ground if they are not able to get back in the nest right away.

These two barred owls may come close into view, so remember to be careful around birds of prey. They have large sharp talons, an incredibly strong grip and a hooked beak designed to kill their prey quickly. They primarily eat small rodents, rabbits or opossums and are not likely to attack people but it is best to keep your distance.

Keep an eye out for our barred owl residents next time you visit. They are truly a breathtaking sight!