I noticed a post on here that was AI-generated and in my opinion off-topic. I don't see the advantages of having AI-generated images on here myself, and prefer real wildlife pictures.

I noticed a lot of people who seemed to agree that this didn't belong here in the comments of the post. Therefore, I propose banning these in this community. What does everyone else think?

Mod ping: @dragonfly@lemmy.world @Smokeless7048@lemmy.world

EDIT: Please don't bash the OP of the mentioned post.

From Ian Roberts

Spectacled Owls love to be out of sight in daylight, deep in the canopy. But if you're quiet and careful (and have a good guide), you can find them. These 2 juveniles were part of a larger family in the rain forest in the Valle de Anton, Panama

From Bryan Poss

It's almost that time of the year again! I've seen the male and female great horned owl from this nest in the area of where they successfully raised 3 owlets last spring. I learned a lot of how to observe and how not to observe owls both from my own mistakes and witnessing how others actions have threatened nesting parents. Most people care and have good intentions, and I can absolutely appreciate that. So if you do come across a nest, read the body language of the birds to assure their safety for generations to come and keep a healthy distance. This is also a message to myself as much as it is to anyone else.

From Kenny Le

Unbelievable, she came right to the spot every photographer wishes for.Nov 8 2025 Ottawa 🫶🇨🇦

Photo credits: Randy Herman

From Center for Wildlife

This Barred Owl came to us 13 days ago after being found entangled in mesh netting. After finding the bird tangled up in their yard (from mesh that was not theirs), the owl's rescuer caught him and brought him to our clinic for much needed care.

Our clinic team got to work detangling the owl, then cleaning and dressing his wounds. His feathers were a bit ratty and disheveled, and both feet were injured from the netting. His left foot was just a little cut up, but his right foot was rubbed raw on top and even down to the muscle over his second toe. He was also given fluids due to dehydration and lethargy- likely caused by stress from getting tangled and going through care. (Stress can be deadly to many animals, so we always make time for them to decompress unless the case is urgent. We also urge rescuers to keep stress in mind and not play music in the car while transporting the animals, or let kids and pets get too close.)

Our clinic team has kept a close eye on his right foot as he's been going through treatment. It has been receiving daily cleaning and re-dressing with honey (a natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial treatment). The foot did start healing, but our team noticed a lot of dry skin which wasn't helping the injury. They tried a petroleum wrap before landing on a natural salve to treat the dryness, which they continued to use as it proved effective.

The owl also needed continued fluids over his first few days in care due to his lack of appetite or voluntary water intake, but he's hydrated and eating now! He just got his tail-guard off too! He needed it to prevent breaking any tail feathers, which he was trying to nervously chew on at first.

As of today, the owl's wounds are healing well, and he is hydrated and eating more! Yesterday, our clinic noted that the foot wounds are beginning to scab over and heal better. We are optimistic about this barred owl's progress, and hope to release him soon!

From Nik Tai

First Northern Saw Whet owl of the season and I drove almost four hours just to find it. Sorry to have disrupted you while eating there, little buddy.

From Jude Hope

Flight check for the evening hunt: wing feathers floofed, murder mittens at the ready, and ears on alert. Ready for take-off. (Great horned owl at sunset. Central Alberta. Nov 16,2025)

I was told this belongs here.

From Dan Oh

Squirrel wants Screech out "his" hole

See the pinned posts (4 of them!) to vote for your final Owl of the Year contestants! Voting ends Saturday, and then the games begin!

From David L Clark

Short-eared Owl made 3 attempts to catch Weasel. Lightning fast Weasel dives down the hole. It even looked like the Weasel was teasing the owl. Neither took the event that serious. Very cool to witness.

From Badger Run Wildlife Rehab

We mentioned in a post yesterday that owls have elongated (tube) eyes, not round or oval. So what are the advantages of an elongated eye?

If a species is going to be active largely at night (nocturnal) or dusk and dawn (crepuscular), it's going to need really large eyes to let more light in. And to capture that light and create a fixed, focused image, the eye needs to have a supersized retina in the back. A tube eye accommodates a larger retina than a round eye. It also creates a bit of a zoom-like effect making owls more far-sighted.

The other thing is that a giant tube-shaped eye is easier to fit into a relatively small skull than a giant rounded eye. Since an owl's eye can make up to 5% of its body weight, the tube shape also allows better weight distribution for flight.

You can see the prominent sclerotic rings that surround the eye on the Great Horned Owl skull in the photo by David Stang that help to support the oversized eye.

And the Great Horned owl in the photograph is our always camera-ready ambassador, Cuddly Dudley.

From Cuong Nguyen

I was speechless when I witnessed this large raven attacking the great horned owl. Both came out OK after that, and the great horned flew away. Shot was taken last year in Ottawa.

I don't know if you guys will find this funny like I did, but while the White Faced Owl is one of the darn cutest animals ever, these are not what I'd consider flattering photos of them. With the hundreds of photos I've seen of them, honestly I'm amazed this owl can look like this funky, and it reminded me of the sub of people showing themselves photographed at the worst angle possible for fun.

Normally so suave and handsome:

From Mohammed Jinnah

White Faced Owls.

It is always great to find an owl. We found four white faced owls in a tree north of Boyela Waterhole in the Kruger Park.

From EULEN-UND GREIFVOGELSTATION Haringsee

After the eagle owl, the Ural owl is the second largest owl species in Central Europe. Unfortunately, the Ural owl was extinct in Austria in the mid-20th century.

Since 2007, the Ural owl has been returned to the wild in Austria as part of a reintroduction program. Our partner organization, the Association for Owl and Bird of Prey Protection, also participates in this project with its breeding pairs.

You can find interesting information about this beautiful owl on our website.

Nach dem Uhu ist der Habichtskauz die zweitgrößte Eulenart Mitteleuropas. In Österreich wurde der große Kauz leider in der Mitte des 20.Jahrhunderts ausgerottet.

Seit 2007 wird der Habichtskauz im Rahmen eines Wiederansiedelungsprogrammes in Österreich wieder ausgewildert. Unsere Partnerorganisation der Verein Eulen- und Greifvogelschutz beteiligt sich mit seinen Zuchtpaaren auch an diesem Projekt.

Auf unserer Website könnt ihr interessante Infos zu der wunderschönen Eule nachlesen.

From North Sky Raptor Sanctuary

Rehabber's log:

After their initial injury and intake, some raptors aren't quite ready for free flight right away. To bridge the gap between rehabilitation and the hopeful freedom flight, we utilize a lightweight tether called a creance to give them room to fly safely. This allows us to monitor their strength, form, stamina, and control before moving to a larger flight enclosure.

This Great Horned Owl needed some extra time and care rebuilding strength before eventually being released to the wild.

From some additional reading:

A creance should be near unnoticeable by the bird if it's being used properly. The line should be light, something that won't snag or tangle easily, and never tied to a fixed object. Line should be let out as the bird flies so it never gets jerked hitting the end of the length of the creance.

It's a training tool and should be designed and used as a safety device for the bird, not as a restraint.

From Jining Han

This short-eared owl grabbed a mole and tried to take off. But apparently in its claws was some rooted grass, too, so it tried multiple times before finally succeeding in pulling out the grass and mole. 11/23/2025

Owls have a reputation in many places for great wisdom.

Like many generalities, it is far from true in all cases. 😜

From The Raptor Center

You voted, and TRC's newest raptor ambassador officially has a name!

The name of this special little Northern hawk owl is Aurora because where the Aurora Borealis can be seen, the Northern hawk owl is likely nearby. Aurora is sure to delight bird lovers and inspire a passion for raptors in all who meet her. When you take a tour of The Raptor Center, you just might get to see her.

Northern hawk owls like Aurora are not often seen in human care. In the wild, these owls are found in the boreal forests of near-polar regions.

But why is this owl named after hawks? Well, they are classified as an owl due to their most dominant features, but have hawk characteristics not seen in other owls. They are diurnal, or active during the day like hawks, using mostly eyesight to hunt small mammals and birds.

Another feature that differs from other owls is that their ears are symmetrical behind their facial disc. This doesn't stop them, however, from hearing and catching small mammals under 30" of snow.

These birds are not secretive despite their remote territory. In fact, their favorite place to perch is the very top of a conifer (evergreen) tree. Since they have low population densities, Northern hawk owls are not rare but are rarely seen in U.S. states.

The Raptor Center feels very fortunate to share this spectacular bird with the public.

Video with more footage or jump to 4:37 and there is the lady training the owl for 4 minutes if you want to see owl training in action.

This is another very new captive bred Hawk Owl, like Pip was earlier this year, for those that remember his amazing but tragic story. This still makes Aroura a very special pioneer for her species.

From Scott Michael Miller

Mama Great Horned Owl and her baby peeking out from their nest!

Check the pinned posts for the Owl of the Year Qualifier threads A-D and vote now! Official games start next week!

From The Owl Orphanage Velddrif

I wonder why it's so important?

To grid up your chimney, ain't gonna cost you an arm and a leg.

However, it could cost a leg and a wing if you don't.

This little one and his sibling, fell through a chimney. The sibling didn't make it.

Do the right thing!!!!!!

Every year when the weather turns cold, owls and other animals get a bad surprise to see their dark, secluded space is not the sanctuary it seemed.

Keep your outdoor neighbors outdoors for their own safety.

Check the pinned posts for the Owl of the Year Qualifier threads A-D and vote now! Official games start next week!

From Project SNOWstorm

Sometimes it's nice to be wrong.

When the Project SNOWstorm team held its annual planning meeting in August, there had been no reports from the Arctic suggesting there'd been a significant snowy owl breeding event anywhere - at least, anywhere that scientists were aware of. After last year's modestly nice irruption, we were preparing ourselves for a quiet winter without too much activity.

Find out what's in store for this winter: In With a Bang

I haven't gotten to read the entire article yet, but it sounds like this year has been abundant with baby Snowies! They mention some rare Snowy sightings in Minnesota, and I'm seeing a bunch of sites here in Pennsylvania reporting them as well.

Do well, little snow angels!

Did I save the best for last? You tell me with those votes for your favorites!

Make sure you check out all 4 groups (A-D) as they get put up and vote for all your favorites. Bottom 2 of each group will be bumped, and the top 4 will continue on to the official games. Upvote your favorites below!