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!

From Sweetbriar Nature Center

Meet our newest little screech owl patient, who's not quite Newton (edit: their other screech owl), but definitely has a story to tell!

This sweet eastern screech owl was recently rescued after being hit by a car and suffering a broken leg. Right now, he's one of three screech owls recovering in our hosptal, and while he's a bit wobbly, he's a fighter!

Owls are incredible hunters, using their feet to grip and tear apart their meals. But with an injured leg, it's been tough for him to eat. So, we've come up with a little trick: we gently place a mouse head first into his beak, and he takes it from there!

It's amazing to see him adapt and work through his challenges. Every day, he's one step closer to recovery and ready to soar again!

Did you know that screech owls usually catch their prey with their feet. The 4 toes on each foot have needle- sharp talons that could easily pierce through a fingernail. The talons also serve as defensive weapons. A cornered screech owl sometimes leans on its back, directing the talons at its attacker.

Of the 4 toes, two are directed forward, one to the side to widen the foot's grasp, and one backwards. The toe to the side can be shifted forward or backwards to facilitate perching. The skin on the underside of the toes is rough, aiding the screech owl in picking up slippery prey such as earthworms.

Follow along for more updates on our little warrior and the rest of our feathered friends!

From Ahjet Lin

The Burrowing Owl reaches speeds of up to 145 mph / 235 kmh and plows headfirst like this into the hillside to carve out its burrow. After that, it really needs a place to rest its head!

Gotcha! They just use old holes from badgers and such! 🤣

They are quite aerodynamic though, aren't they?

I like the landing gear coming out here in these other photos.

From Wild Action

Just a quick update. 'Gandalf the tawny frogmouth (left) is now 40 days of age... And 'Bandit the boobook owl is now 31 days of age. It always amazes me on how quickly they have grown..HUGE changes everyday. Not quite full grown, still just big kids. ❤️

Original Post when they were teeny tiny!

From Lisa Lavargna

Can you relate??? Just waking up, this little one's expression reminds me of those who had just a bit too much fun the night before!!

From Patricia Thomas

Short-Eared owls in flight exhibiting a courtship behavior of clapping their wings. I think she was charmed.

From Matt Sorum

Our local celebrity Owl in Fargo, ND.

From Niclas Ahlberg

A great grey owl (lappuggla) has its sight locked in on vole. A magnificent backdrop with mountains in the sunset.

From Shravan Sundaram

The Trees Have Eyes - Western Screech-Owl peers out of a Coast Live Oak cavity before beginning the evening hunt.

From John Abbott

Burram Heads, Queensland

This owl seems to have had a ton of names over the years. From. Wikipedia :

Australian boobook has been designated the official name by the International Ornithological Committee, changed from "southern boobook" in 2019 with the separation of some Indonesian subspecies. The common name comes from the two-tone call of the bird, and has also been transcribed as "mopoke". William Dawes recorded the name bōkbōk "an owl" in 1790 or 1791, in his transcription of the Dharug language, and English explorer George Caley had recorded the native name as buck-buck during the earliest days of the colony, reporting that early settlers had called it cuckoo owl as its call was reminiscent of the common cuckoo. He added, "The settlers in New South Wales are led away by the idea that everything is the reverse in that country to what it is in England; and the Cuckoo, as they call this bird, singing by night, is one of the instances they point out." Gould recorded local aboriginal names: Goor-goor-da (Western Australia), Mel-in-de-ye (Port Essington), and Koor-koo (South Australia). Alternative common names include spotted owl and brown owl. The Ngarluma people of the western Pilbara knew it as gurrgumarlu. In the Yuwaaliyaay dialect of the Gamilaraay language of southeastern Australia, the Australian boobook is guurrguurr.

Dutch naturalist Gerlof Mees and German evolutionary biologist Ernst Mayr regarded the taxonomy of the boobook owl complex as extremely challenging,[18] the latter remarking in 1943 that it was "one of the most difficult problems I have ever encountered".

From Cape Wildlife Center

It's a bird! it's a plane! It's an extremely disgruntled screech owl who spent a few nights in a chimney.

Last evening critter control of Cape Cod brought us this screech owl after a customer complained of noises coming from their chimney. To their collective surprise they found an Eastern Screech Owl staring back at them!

After an exam and a thorough de-sooting we determined it was only his pride that was injured in the incident. Owls fly compliantly silently and even some errant soot is enough to disrupt the natural airflow. This extra in-flight noise can be the difference between eating dinner and going hungry! We will keep him for a few days while he gets his affairs (and feathers) in order and rehydrates a bit. After that he will be released back to the wild where he will discontinue his career as a chimney sweep.

All jokes aside, we see this multiple times each year! Cavity nesting owls like screeches and barred owls venture down chimneys in search of food or shelters and become stuck on top of the flu or in the fireplace.

Here's how you can help 1) check inside wood and pot- belly stoves for inhabitants prior to lighting them. 2) visually check the flu on fire places before lighting a fire. 3) most importantly, get a chimney cap! They are cheap, easy to install, and keep critters of all sizes from coming down your chimney. Just make sure to get the Santa friendly version.

Came upon this video today that talks about various aspects of camouflage, how it has evolved for different species, how it teaches us about how predator minds work, and how it is still evolving today.

It's about 10 minutes long, and the first section discusses the Tawny Owl. The more northern ones are lighter,due to the climate, but as climates change, the Tawny must change with it.

I've linked the full video which goes into other species like snakes, deer, tigers, and insects, and a quick link to the owl if you're in a hurry.

Full Video

Straight to the Owls

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/18818424

From Munaroh

One of the challenges in my bird photography is capturing birds in flight. What is the position of the sun, what is a good spot, where does the bird often pass by in flight, from what angle is best to take it. Once you have analyzed that, it is time to set your Z8 camera properly for the fast movements and light. This beautiful long-eared owl was not distracted by me and was focused on its daily prey. It flew beautifully into the first sunlight, so its bright eyes and plumage show how beautiful the owl is during its flight. It was a wonderful moment to capture this. And my Z8 did not let me down, a great wildlife camera that named Nikki. Nikki and l are inseparable when we go outdoors looking for beautiful photo locations.

From Kurt De Meulemeester

Captured this stunning shot of a short-eared owl on a cold January winter evening. The owl's graceful flight and piercing yellow eyes are mesmerizing against the soft, blurred background. Nature's beauty at its finest!

From Lisa Lavargna

It was a Holy Moly... Moment!! don't know how my fellow photographers do it! I was trying to keep the camera steady but at the same time was shaking from excitement and deciding if should duck or not! His/her wingspan was astronomical!

From John Crooks

Barn Owl hunting yesterday afternoon. Norfolk, England Canon R7 with EF500F4L IS USM + 1.4 extender 1/1600 F5.6 ISO 6400

A little dazed, a little confused, but in good hands in Provincetown, MA. (found injured)

Some will probably kill me for this, but it's from u/Firm_Love3598, and I thought it too good not to share!

Oh, and it really is a Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus). That expression really gets me. ❤️

From Ericka Berja

Someone's being sad that autumn's almost over. Eastern Screech Owl.

From Brynda Ivan

When stopped by this little Screech Owl's hole yesterday morning, it was clear he'd had a meal shortly prior to my arrival. I don't usually crop in this tightly, but there are 3 feathers (2 on his right, 1 on his left) and wanted them to be easier to see in this pic.

I wonder what breakfast was?

From Paulo Andrade

Striped Owl
'Asio clamator'
Nov/24
Brasil

From Kenzo Pan

Nice grip strength!

From Kevin Thurk

Saw whet owlets hanging out together.

Look at those toes! 😍

From Brian Barnes

Love the eyebrows on this tired looking Barred Owl!