The image of the wise old owl, perched in a tree, giving a hoot now and then, can be shattered in the blink of an eye.

It is also a silent, lethal hunter. The round, lazy gaze of the eyes is seductive. But the head can swivel 270 degrees and the owl’s keen vision in low light provides for deadly night forays.

Rabbits, skunks, voles, quail, ducks, amphibians, even smaller owls are subject to the clutch of their talons.
And while they prey on a variety of dishes, they are prey for few others.

Besides humans, the owls have no natural enemy, other than other owls,
according to Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife biologist Susan Barnes –
the Mountain Times expert in the field for this series.

“I can’t think of anything that hunts them (owls),” Barnes said. “Smaller owls
have to watch out for larger owls, occasionally, but that’s it.”

They are more in danger from habitat loss, getting tangled in fences, hit by
cars, or being shot at.

The “being shot at” part is prohibited by law.

“They are amazing and beautiful creatures,” Barnes said. “And they are a top
predator in the bird world.”

Besides the talons, the night vision, and the swiveling head, the owl has
another distinct advantage over its prey: silence. The attack is more than
deadly and swift. It comes without notice. Their wings are wide, bodies light,
and have feathers designed to silently slip through the night.

There are seven species of owls that inhabit the Mountain community.

Northern Spotted Owl – This meek creature has caused a firestorm of
controversy, if for no other reason than it insists on an old-growth forest to
call home. Problematically, the logging industry also covets the same areas
for harvesting. That brought out the environmentalists to defend the spotted
owl’s habitat, and the battle was on. Some of the old growth has been saved
from the saw, but the spotted owl’s population is still in decline, according to
Barnes. Unfortunately, barred owls have also migrated from the east and they
find the spotted owl as a prized feast. Another quirky habit of the spotted owl
also works against them. They are not frightened by humans. Juveniles have
even been spotted following hikers through the woods. “I’ve held them in my
hands,” Barnes said.

Barred Owl – Due to questionable forest management, this owl has invaded
western forests, the Mountain woods as well. They have an aggressive nature
and are a real threat to the humble spotted owl. The barred owl was first
spotted in Oregon in the 1970s, and has since spread throughout our state’s
forests.

Western Screech Owl – This is a common, year-round resident in our
woodlands and has been spotted above 4,000 feet elevations in the Cascades.
Strictly nocturnal as a hunter, the screech owl will perch during the day and
because of its streaked plumage can easily appear as tree bark.

Great Horned Owl – This is the most often seen owl in Oregon. It is a large,
powerful owl and is easily distinguished from other owls by the feather tufts
above the eyes that appear as horns. It is an aggressive hunter and is known
to include smaller owls in its varied diet.

Northern Pygmy Owl – Don’t be fooled by his size. This tiny owl is active
during the day, is aggressive in nature, and has been known to take down
mammals twice its size. It is an obsessive hunter and can often be
approached during their forays for food.

Northern Saw-Whet Owl – They are tiny, no more than 8 inches in length,
and is one of the most common owls in Oregon. It breeds in low to mid-
elevation coniferous forests but can occasionally be spotted near the tree line.

It is the most common owl in the Coast Range.

Barn Owl – Besides its keen eyesight and silent approach, this owl also has a
well-defined facial disc that acts as a parabolic dish collecting the faint sounds
of its prey. This allows the barn owl to hunt successfully in total darkness. The
harsh, shuddering call of the barn owl will split the night as it flies over fields
in search of rodents.

Owls need our help. They devour rodents. So when humans poison rodents,
they kill owls in the process. Also, due to the lack of natural nesting cavities in
trees, owls sometimes nest in weird places.

“This can cause conflict and requires us to adjust timing of projects (and)
restrict certain activities until nesting is complete,” Barnes said. “I’ve seen
barn owls and screech owls nest under roofs of outdoor basketball play areas
at schools. I’ve seen barn owls nest in cell phone tower holes and in holes of
houses being remodeled.”

We can help by being aware of, and protective of, their nesting areas. We get
rid of stumps and snags. This is prime real estate for owls – and the bigger,
the better.

It sounds corny, but we can give a hoot and help these wide-eyed, valuable
residents of our Mountain woodlands.