Boreal Owl – Who? You!

5″x7″ Owl Greeting Card with envelope

Greeting: Who? You!

Photos and story by Sharon Krushel, Peace River, AB

Description

Story on the back:

On a lovely day in January, we were hiking in the Peace River hills, when my friend, Joseph, from Kenya, who is keen to spot wildlife, said, “Is that an owl up ahead?!”
“Yes! Yes, it is! Good eye!”
Eyes are the window to the soul. I can’t even begin to describe the wonder, awe, and elation of gazing wide-eyed into this elusive little creature’s wide eyes that were gazing back at me!
When I got home, I looked in the Mother Earth Book to compare pictures, and it’s a Boreal Owl! – page 197 (Aegolius funereus) or Nyctale de Tengmalm in French. The Cree word for small owl is kohkohkohow.
Boreal owls are fairly silent, except from mid-February to April, when the male initiates the courting ritual with his fast-paced, passionate hooting serenade, “Who who who who who who who…?” which he performs at a potential nesting site. He may sing for weeks with no response, but he hoots hopefully on. The female who hears and answers his call, may be almost twice his weight! He offers food throughout the courtship as a way to win her affection. If she’s sufficiently impressed, she’ll stay! Woo-who who who whooo!
Boreal Owls readily accept nest boxes, so if you live within the breeding range of a Boreal Owl, check out AllAboutBirds.org to find plans to build a nest box that’s just the right size.