Based on their size alone, birds of prey are impressive. Hawks, falcons, vultures and eagles stand out naturally as they soar through the clouds or swoop to catch an unsuspecting meal. The raptors are renowned for their power, grace and many other avian attributes.
With similar skills, but in a different category because of their nocturnal nature, the owls that call Missouri home are equally impressive. Jefferson County residents will get another chance to learn about great horned owls that live in St. Louis Forest Park when Mark H.X. Glenshaw visits Crystal City Public Library to present his “Hiding in Plain Sight” free program at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29.
Glenshaw has studied the owls in Forest Park and shared information about them since 2005. He leads excursions in the park dozens of times each year for groups of people who hope to catch a glimpse of the big birds in their natural setting.
The fact that they call Forest Park home reflects on the species’ adaptability. Great horned owls are considered common statewide, and as evidenced above, can find habitat anywhere from the dense woodland forest to a city park. When you reign near the top of the food chain, you get to decide where and how you live.
In a previous interview, I asked Glenshaw what the owls of Forest Park eat, and he explained that it’s easier to list the things they won’t try to make into a meal. Full-grown coyotes, foxes and deer are the only animals in the park they won’t challenge. Obviously, pedestrians, cyclists, golfers and Muny Opera patrons are also not on the menu.
In another conversation he was asked about how ferocious a four-pound owl could be, and he answered with a question. “Would you want to fight an angry raccoon? Then never mess with a bird that eats them for dinner.”
Glenshaw’s 90-minute presentation is filled with facts, photos and videos from the Owl Prowls that he leads in the park. To find out more about these magnificent birds, attend the program at Crystal City Library, or visit forestparkowls.blogspot.com.
Opportunities to spot owls in the wild are limited by their late-night lifestyle. They are more likely heard than seen. Missouri is home to three owl species that are considered common permanent residents: great horned owls, barred owls and eastern screech owls. Barn owls are considered rare in the state.
The most familiar of the trio is the barred owl. Many people simply call them hoot owls because of their distinctive, and often repetitive, nine-note song. While their “who cooks for you?” refrain is easily recognized, I have also heard them whip up a line of owl gibberish that they deliver with authority.
The screech-owl call is more like a sound effect from a scary movie. The frightening part is that even though the miniature owl (compared to the other two) is still considered common in our state, the chances to hear its trill whistle are fading.
The long-eared owl and short-eared owl are species of conservation concern in Missouri. Already rare winter visitors and extremely rare summer residents, their population numbers continue to dwindle.
The little northern saw-whet is the smallest of the Missouri owls at about 8 inches tall. They may visit from October through March, but are more familiar in their breeding range near the Great Lakes and into southern Canada.
The only other owls spotted in the state on occasion are snowy owls, which usually call the Arctic tundra their home.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and is the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com.