This individual pictured could be one
of that pair.
The Great Horned Owl is King,
and Queen, of the jungle. An absolute
apex, top-of-the-food-web predator,
the feet and talons on this bird are
amazing and impressive in size and
strength. Soft, fluffy, and dense-sur-
faced plumage gives the owl near-
silent flight. If you ever find a feather
with a rounded, ovoid shape to it,
there is a good possibility it is an owl
feather depending on some other fea-
tures. These stealthy-flying Great
Horned Owls have excellent senses,
most certainly that of hearing. Many
owl species have facial discs, which in
a way work as satellite auditory
receivers. Eyesight is fairly good, but
not necessarily supernatural. At night,
they still use moonlight to their advan-
tage. One sense that is not so keen is
the olfactory system or the sense of
smell. The Great Horned Owl is a key
and primary predator of skunk species
so it kind of works out for them; for us,
too. Someone has to do it.
The myriad of habitats that make up
the Big Bend region can be viewed as
an organism. It breathes, it consumes,
it nourishes and takes nourishment. It
is an organism that is a balance, millen-
nia in the making. We who live here
are part of that larger “land organism,”
too. Take pride in it, and responsibility
unto it, along with your fellow “cog and
wheel.” It is a most important and wor-
thy stewardship effort.
If ever any of us need a reminder,
step outside. We live in an amazing
place, that which is larger than self.
Perhaps one day, we will see the
Aplomado Falcon flying this land
again. It deserves to. We deserve to.
Gazing at this huge bird with those
magnificent features, most certainly its
eyes, I can't help but wonder what it
really sees and hears. What might it
sense that is beyond my capability?
Does it notice that we do not? Perhaps
it senses more than we can handle.
Cenizo
First Quarter 2014
9