Scovone Star Magazine 2017-2018 | Page 22

ODDLY OUTSTANDING OWLS with one eye open and the other eye is closed. The eye that’s open, that half of their brain is awake. The other side, with closed eye, that side of their brain is sleeping. They always have one half of their brain awake so predators don’t come and eat the owl while they are asleep. Owls hang around at night when it’s dark. In order to see, owls have a very large pupil. About as big as a whole eye. Pupils take in every little bit of light that there is. Since owl pupils are so large, they can see very well in the dark. Since they can do all these things in the dark, owls are nocturnal. First off, most owls don’t hoot. The only types of owls that actually do hoot are Hoot Owls and Great Horned Owls. All other owls can make sounds such as screaming, screeching, and hissing, but cannot screech. Now you know that most owls really don’t hoot. in the late winter, you will be able to hear the calls of owls before you go to bed. These songs from the males are mating calls. To attract the female owls. Owls also hoot or screech or scream, or whatever you like to call it, to claim their territory. If you hear hooting, and it doesn’t seem to match each of these scenarios, the owls are probably simply “communicating”. Like talking but in a weird owl way. It’s like their own little language. To sum it up, these fascinating creatures have so many different ways to “talk”. As you can see, owls are very beautiful, majestic creatures with fascinating features and instincts. These amazing creatures are different from all the other birds, they are the odd ones out like a apple pie in a blueberry pie shop. The only birds that are nocturnal and the only ones that can turn their heads almost 360 degrees. Do you know why owls make these strange noises though? Sometimes in early spring and SOURCES “Audubon.” 11 Fun Facts About Owls. http://audubon.org/news/11-fun-facts-about-owl “International Owl Center.” Owls as Pets. http://internationalowlcenter.org/owlaspets.html “Journey North.” Listen to Owls. http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/spring/OwlDictionary.html “Joy of Animals.” Where do Owls Live? http://www.joyofanimals/where-do-owls-live/ “National Geographic.” how Owls Twist Their Heads Almost 360 Degrees. http://blognationalgeographic.org “Owls and Other Birds of Prey.” Mary E. Reid. 2005 “Reference.” Why do Owls Hoot? http://reference.com/pets-animals/owls-hoot-c83b3e73623lacac?qo=content “The Aviary at owls.com.” Owl Facts. http://aviary.owls.com/owls-Facts.htm/ “The Spruce.” Six Reasons Why You Don’t Want an Owl as a Pet. http://www.thespruce.com/reasons-why-owl-not-good- pet-4007846 “ThoughtCo.” 10 Fascinating Facts About Owls. http://www.thoughtco.com/fascinating-facts-about-owls-410 “World of Owls.” Beaks, Feathers, and Flight. http://www.worldofowls.com/beaks-feathers-and-flight/