Birds of Prey

A Great Horned Owl, an Eastern Screech Owl and a Red-Tailed Hawk were featured at our local library Birds of Prey program, courtesy of Mountsberg Conservation http://www.conservationhalton.ca/park-details?park=mountsberg

Red-Tailed Hawk

The center is a haven for raptors unable to survive the wild due to injury or imprinting on the incorrect species, however Mountsberg staff was quick to remind us these are not pets.

GHO & Eastern Screech Owl

Fantastic to be in such close proximity to some of my favourite creatures; owls!!

We learned:

~owls feathers camouflage amoungst tree bark and branches ('ear' tufts are not ears at all, rather feathers mocking twigs!)

~owls have one high and one low ear so they audibly follow prey

~their eyes are conical, not spheres/eyeballs like ours, which contribute to their amazing binocular sight

~owls cannot turn their heads 360 degrees (as their eyes cannot rotate), rather 270 degrees

~owls fly silently in order to surprise their prey

Camo Feathers

EXPAND ON BIRDS OF PREY

Owl Moon. Mountsberg staff actually suggested reading Owl Moon if you're interested in owling. Just so happens...we have that book!