The bracket is made!
I think this year's lineup is an improvement over last year. Based on what I've seen, all the opening matches look very competitive. My goal was to fix some of the lop-sided wins we had, and I'm feeling good about how this schedule looks.
There's going to be some tough choices for you guys. Much like last year, I'm glad I don't need to decide, but I'm still going to have to accept some painful loses at some point. I try to keep impartial during the tournament, but I definitely have some personal favorites. Sooty vs GHO is one where I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye to either one.
You guys didn't nominate my beloved Spotted Wood Owl. Buff Fronted got in, which I was happy for, but its first opponent is last year's winner.
I'm excited to see the Battle of the Southern Hemisphere between Australia's Barking Owl and NZ's Morepork.
We've got Eurasia's biggest owls going head-to-head.
Snowy, Burrowing, and Buffy are all up against some flashy newcomers where we could have a surprise victory like the unexpected triumphs the Flammulated Owl had last year,
I think I will start the games Wed, 4 DEC after I get back from some travel. Then we've got a little over 2 weeks of excitement to crown this year's winner. I'll put the final 4 owls in the banner again and the winner gets the icon.
Got a personal favorite you're ready to cheer on to victory?
Let me know which matches you are most looking forward to or dreading the most!
Interesting, I didn't know many owls have still so little stuff known about them!
Treating owl of the year more as a beatuy contest is completely valid, and honestly, with all the amount of work you already put in (like finding and upscaling the images, and preparing this whole event and everything that comes with it!) it's more than fair to just keep it as is :) Your work is greatly appreciated and we're thankful for every minute you can spare on curating some owl content for all of us :)
It's getting me to learn a lot more than I had ever planned. I have some physical owl books I've bought, I read science journals, and I talk to rehabbers and zookeepers about laws and regulations to try to bring you guys new info that isn't general knowledge yet.
We tend to know our locals owls best, and Owl of the Year was originally a way to acclimate you all with some of the ones many of us have never heard of while still celebrating the ones we do. I expect a more common owl to do well, but I get excited when you embrace one that is more rare.