A Little Bit More
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) may be considered one of the most successful birds of prey in North America. Its range covers almost the entire North American continent, from wooded wilderness to city parks and suburbs. Although its preferred foods are small mammals such as rabbits and mice, it preys upon whatever animals are most abundant and may even feed upon carrion if hard-pressed for food. The Great Horned Owl is the only common predator to feed regularly on skunks and a captured or road-killed owl often exudes a heavy skunk odor.
The breeding season varies North to South; in Florida, Great Horned Owls may begin nesting in the fall while in New England, they generally wait until January or February. This early start appears necessary because of the youngs’ long period of dependency. Incubation requires about 28 days, and the young remain in the nest for six to seven weeks after hatching. The fledgling owlets then drop to the ground, not yet able to fly, and live there for several more weeks, still being fed by their parents. By the age of ten to twelve weeks, they are able to fly and begin following their parents around, uttering blood-curdling food-begging cries.
Once the nesting season is completed, the young begin to disperse. They generally travel three to twenty miles from their nesting site but may go much farther if food is scarce. These young-of-the-year birds fan out to establish new territories in suitable locations, filling vacated territories or finding new ones in which to live.
Activities
Owl Portrait
Objectives: Increase familiarity with Great Horned Owl
Materials: Ability to print out illustration, reference material, coloring materials
One of the best ways to really internalize what an animal looks like, is to sketch and/or color that animal. Use the Great Horned Owl illustration provided to help your students become more familiar with what these impressive animals really look like.
Print out this illustration, make copies, and have your students color their picture. They’ll need to look up some reference material on this owl so their colors are accurate. There really isn’t much color on an owl but having them go through this process will help them “see” and “remember” this impressive bird.
A few things you may want to point out to the students include:
- Owl eyes face forward just like human eyes. Can you think of a reason why this arrangement helps owls?
- Great Horned Owls have ear tufts. Are these really the owl’s ears?
- Although you see four toes in the illustration, you are seeing two toes on the left foot and two toes on the right foot. Does an owl only have four toes?
Great Horned Owl © John Wiessinger
Answers
- Having eyes in the front of their head greatly improves depth perception and makes it easier for owls to home-in on their prey.
- An owl’s ears are small holes in the side of their heads that are hidden by feathers. The “ear tufts” on an owl’s head are feathers and NOT ears at all.
- Owls have a special toe arrangement (called zygodactyl – ZY-go-dac-til) with two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward on each foot. Owls have four toes on each foot but in the illustration, you can only see the forward two on each foot.
Key Concepts
Behavior and Regulation, Identification, Life Cycles
Questions
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Posted by janet fortner on August 31, 2006 at 11:09 AM
Q: i live in indiana and want to know when i should take my feeders down?
A: Although there is a misconception that hummers will remain behind long after they should if food is available, this is not true - hummingbirds leave on their own timetable. Your question is a good one but will vary depending on just where you live, even within the state of Indiana. I have found that if I keep an eye on my feeder and do not see any activity for a week to 10 days in early Sept, I figure my birds have left and those coming down from the north have passed by too. This is how I determine when to bring in my feeder. Hope this helps you out.
Posted by Amanda Risinger on June 15, 2006 at 05:46 PM
Q: When do most people put out their hummingbird feeders near South Carolina and when do they take them down typically?
A: Amanda, The Ruby-throated Hummingbird visits feeders in South Carolina from March through November. here's the site of the SC Wildlife Federation that will tell you all about it:
www.scwf.org/articles/index.php?view=460
Good luck!
Posted by Harold Wilson on June 04, 2006 at 01:39 PM
Q: What is an insect with yellow stripes on it's tail,and has hummingbird like wings but also has butterfly like tongue.
A: I think you've seen the Clear-winged Sphinx, a kind of sphinx moth that is incredibily hummingbird-like. Most of these animals feed at dusk or at night but a few species feed during daylight. Thanks for asking.
Posted by Vivian Davenport on May 30, 2006 at 01:38 PM
Q: I just put a feed out , I have never had one before. How do I get the hummingbird to it?
A: Vivian, presuming you put the right mixture in a feeder designed to attract hummingbirds there is no need to do anything more. Make sure the feeder is in view from nearby trees and shrubs where Hummingbirds prefer to perch. If protective cover like this is available, and if the feeder is visible from there, hummingbirds will eventually find the feeder. Good luck!
Posted by Suzanne Lewis on April 24, 2006 at 06:24 AM
Q: when do you put hummingbird feeders out in western lower Michigan? I have seen the migration map, but it says "not for feeder purposes?"
Thank You.
A: >
I have a web site you may want to check out for this year's migration dates. Keep in mind that even though a Ruby-throated Hummingbird has been sighted in your area, those that will stay at your place may not have arrived yet - it may just be a migrant moving through. I figure if my feeder is out a bit early, no harm done. So, I think you can put your feeder out now and should soon see activity there. Check out
Posted by NANCI MOYERS on April 18, 2006 at 02:12 PM
Q: WHEN DO I BEGIN TO PUT OUT MY ORIOLE FEEDERS? I LIVE IN S E IOWA
A: The early Baltimore Orioles will return to Iowa during the last week of April. I would expect the majority of the birds to arrive during the first 2 weeks of May though. Looks like next week would be the best time to put out your feeders, but don't expect a lot of visitors. Good luck to you!
Posted by Patsy Locklear on April 15, 2006 at 10:57 AM
Q: When does hummingbird season officially start. I am in Northeast Ohio (Ashtabula County). I want to sit out a bird feeder for them but I'm not sure of their season.
I'm so new at this birdwatching. I have blackcapped chickadees, a woodpecker, cardinals, bluejays, other finches and two black birds that I have not researched.
I want very much to attract the hummingbirds too. But I was going to place the feeder in my front. Should I combine all of these feeders out back? I'm also adding some flowers to my garden that hummingbirds can feed from.
I'd appreciate any help you could give.
Wanishi (Goodbye in the Lenape Tribe)
Patsy
A: Good luck with your bird feeding - it's extremely rewarding! If you want to put your feeders in the same area, that should work just fine. As the spring moves into summer, the seed eaters will be visiting your feeders less often while the hummers will be actively using the feeders once they get started. I have all of my feeders in the same area and it works just fine for me. If you place your feeders where you have the most cover (trees, shrubs, and flowering plants) you'll probably have more bird varieties visiting.
There are lots of sites on the web that discuss bird feeders so you should be able to find ample info to help you get started. I have a great web site that plots the migration of the hummingbirds you may want to check out. At least a few hummingbirds have already been seen in northern Ohio so you may want to put your hummingbird feeder out now. Take a look at www.hummingbirds.net
Enjoy!
Posted by Linda Delamater on April 08, 2006 at 06:17 PM
Q: I live in Northern Ohio and I was wondering when the humming birds come back so I know when to put the feeders out for them thank you
A: I found a great site that shows the migration of the Ruby-throats as they move northward. Take a look at www.hummingbirds.net Thanks for asking and I hope you have a good hummingbird year.
Posted by Vicki Tabb on April 08, 2006 at 07:08 AM
Q: I live in central IL. When should I put out my hummingbird and oriole feeders?
A:
I found a great website that shows the progression of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird as it migrates northward. According to this site, you can place your feeder out now! Take a look at www.hummingbirds.net Hope you have a good hummingbird year!
Posted by alex lepage on April 02, 2006 at 03:06 PM
Q: When can I put out my hummingbird feeder full of nectar, living in Crestview, Fla???
A: Actually, the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are already back in Florida. They began arriving in January. Take a look at this site and you'll see some arrival times for 2006
www.hummingbirds.net Enjoy.
Posted by Molly Plank on March 24, 2006 at 12:04 PM
Q: When do I put out my hummingbird and oriole feeders for northern Indiana?
A: This is a difficult one to answer because it depends on where you live. In Florida, hummingbirds are already arriving in January but don't make it to the upper Great Lakes until May. So, for northern Indiana you're probably OK to begin watching in early May. If you have a local bird club, they'll probably have dates for you that are quite accurate. I have a Pin Cherry that blooms in my woods early May and the Orioles are always there at that time so this is how I know when they'll be back. Of course, Orioles sing so one can often hear them long before they're even seen.
I find that my sugar water goes bad (gets moldy) quickly so I don't put much in at one time and therefore must clean and refill often. If you want, put just a little in your feeder a wee bit earlier than you think is correct to be sure to have food there when they do arrive. Hummingbirds really do home-in on red so some people put red ribbons or even flowers around their feeders to encourage that first "visit". Once hummers know the food is there, if they don't leave your area for nesting elsewhere, they'll be back again and again for food.
It's really exciting to see hummingbirds come up so close and be able to watch their behavior. Since hummers live several years, once you get a bird using your feeder, they'll likely return each year and their progeny after that. Very best of luck to you with your birds.
Posted by Shirley Brinkley on March 01, 2006 at 10:43 AM
Q: When do I need to hang out my hummingbird feeders (for Northeast Mississippi)?
A: It's still too early but it's also good that you're beginning to think about it. I usually wait until I see a Hummingbird in my yard but your local bird club should be able to tell you an exact date for your area. If you have a bird club in northern Mississippi, they'll be able to tell you when to expect the hummer's return. I also have found that Hummingbirds from last year often will come right to the exact location where my feeder was before and look for a handout. I guess for me this is my best tip off as to their return and I then begin feeding. So if all else fails, keep an eye out to the very spot where last year's feeder was located. Good luck - it's lots of fun watching these intersting birds.
Posted by Anne & John Hammett on January 15, 2006 at 02:11 PM
Q: We would like to hang a humming bird feeder in our yard. The feeder directs state not to hang out if it is not "humming bird" season. What is humming bird season on Tucson, Arizona?
A: I think the reason they don't want you to hang your feeder out when it is not "hummingbird season" is that the sugar water will get moldy and foul up your feeder when there are no birds to use it. I have found that by putting a smaller amount of sugar water in my hummingbird feeder means they will use it up before the mold takes over - larger amounts often go bad. "Hummingbird season" simply refers to the time when hummingbirds are in your area and this will vary as you recognize. Living in Tuscon, you have many different species that may be found in your area - lucky you - so times will vary depending on species. I'm not aware of any species that overwinter in Tuscon so I would think by March (this is a guess), you may be able to start looking for birds. To be sure, I'd call your local birding club or the Desert Museum in Tuscon and see what kind of dates they have for returning hummingbirds. Most birders are really big on arrival dates for birds so this should help. Of course, you can always put the feeder out whenever and keep an eye on it but you'll need to take it down and clean every so often to be sure mold doesn't take over. Good luck to you and I think once the birds are back and using your feeder, you'll find this is a wonderful way to enjoy these incredible birds. Thanks for asking.
Posted by patricia ferguson on January 03, 2006 at 08:13 PM
Q: which bird can fly backward?
A: Although hummingbirds get all the credit for being able to accomplish this feat (flying backward), other birds can too, just not as well. There are many species of warblers and other small songbirds that can hover in place and fly backwards a wee bit as they seek insects on the wing. But, the champions of flying backward are definitely the hummingbirds.
Posted by SHUBHAM KATARIA on April 16, 2005 at 06:35 AM
Q: which is the only bird that can fly reverse?
a)Parrot b) Humming Bird c)Swift
A: I'm tempted to give you the answer but that probably isn't fair so I'll help you come up with the answer yourself.
The key to the answer here is how each of these birds feed. If you know how they feed, you can probably tell immediately which one can fly in reverse.
Parrots each all kinds of fruit, plants, and seeds. They have a strong bill that they use to pick things from trees and the ground and then bite into food or crack it open.
Hummingbirds feed on insects and nectar. Nectar is simply sugar water that flowers produce. The hummingbirds are able to feed by approaching a flower, while on the wing, sip nectar and then leave to go to another and yet another flower in their search for nectar.
Swifts are extremely fast fliers that speed through the air in search of insects. The insects they eat are all captured while the swift is in flight, it never feeds on the ground.
Now, can you figure out which one is probably the backward flyer?
Posted by Lisa Shykes on February 23, 2005 at 02:19 PM
Q: What is the only bird with two toes?
A: All birds have 4 toes, generally three forward and one reverse. This is true of almost all perching birds. Other birds like cuckoos and roadrunners have two toes forward and two toes reverse. Some unusual birds like owls, can position their toes so sometimes three are forward or sometimes two!
Here's a bird that seems to defy the rule, the Three-toed Woodpecker. It looks like two toes forward and one in reverse. In reality, the one rear toe is two toes fused together.
The scientific term for the fused toes is "syndactyly."
So, if there is a bird somewhere with two toes it must be a case of double syndactyly!
Posted by Doreen Smith on February 11, 2005 at 10:44 AM
Q: What bird has only two toes?
A: The Ostrich has only two - one is much smaller than the other. This reduction in toes is probably a response to its life in the open where it must use speed to evade predators since it can't fly. Horses are a mammalian example of an animal living under similar conditions (in the wild, that is) that have fewer toes.