NOVEMBER 21, 2020

YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF WOWZERS AND WONDER FROM THE NATURAL WORLD

Editor’s Note

When we first dreamed up this Wowzerful concept, we had no idea how many people would be interested in what we were creating. 

Thank you so much for the feedback, shares on Facebook and Instagram, and for forwarding the newsletter along to your friends.

We’re overwhelmed by this early support and are happy you are all so excited!

Now, onto this week’s featured topic…

Our family recently finished reading “Owls in the Family” by Canadian author Farley Mowat. 

Ever since then, the kids have been obsessed with Great Horned Owls.

They’ve been building nests made of pillows and blankets, and populating them with their owl stuffies (pretty sure I saw a penguin posing as an owl at one point too).

After digging deeper into this magnificent bird, I can certainly see what has inspired their new-found fascination and excitement. 

This owl is truly an amazing creature.

We hope you enjoy learning about the Great Horned Owl as much as we did.

Thanks for reading,
Geoff

Bubo Virginianus: The Great Horned Owl.

One of the world’s largest owls, the Great Horned Owl can be easily identified by its unique feathered “horns” or “ears” (which are, in fact, just feathers) that extend from the top of its head. 

A proficient set of eyes paired with the ability to silently fly through the air due to the soft, brush-like structures on the edges of its wing feathers, make the Great Horned Owl an extremely efficient hunter of rabbits, mice, voles, snakes, other raptors and even skunks (it’s one of the only animals on earth brave enough to prey on those black and white stinkers). 

Contrary to popular belief, Great Horned Owls are crepuscular, not nocturnal. 

This means they prefer to hunt during dusk and dawn, though they are not opposed to grabbing a midnight snack or securing a mid-morning brunch if they so desire. 

Sound familiar?

QUICK STATS

WOWZERFUL FACTS

• Can fly up to 64 km/hr (40 mph) in level flight.
• Prefer to eat their prey whole, then regurgitate indigestible pellets made of bone and fur – sounds delicious!
• Could hear a mouse crawling along a forest floor from over a soccer field away.
• This owl’s right ear is positioned slightly higher than it’s left, allowing sound to reach one ear a split second before it reaches the other. When the owl tilts its head until the sound is equalized, it finds itself staring right at its prey.
• If you put a Great Horned Owl in a football stadium, lit by only one candle, there would be enough light for it to hunt.
• Their eyes are so large, there is not enough room for them to move around in their sockets. Instead, a Great Horned Owl relies on its ability to turn its head 270 degrees.

Some cool stuff from around the web we think you and your kids will enjoy.

OVERHEARD

“
Think and wonder.
Wonder and think.

—Dr. Suess

THAT’S FUNNY

Why doesn’t an owl study for a test?

They prefer to wing it!

Until next week…

Thank you for reading. Be sure to check-in next Saturday
for our trip to the tropics!

– Wowzerful

Today’s email was written by Geoff W with contributions by Branden S.

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