Evening star., 1938-11-05
OF STARS,
MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science PROGRESS
in Field, Laboratory
and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.


Owls, symbols Of wisdom and objects
Of superstitious dread through the ages,
are not necessarily the malignant crea-
lures they have been painted.
Arthur Cleveland Bent, noted Ameri-
can ornithologist, pictures them with
their hair down" in 4 bulletin on the
owls Of North America Just issued by
the Smithsonian Institution.
They are creatures of the darkness,
and, as such, always are mysterious
agents Of evil and foreboders of catas-
trophe. But within the dark they have
their own humdrum family life. They
vary from rather gentle birds to "tigers
and wildcats" OF the feathered world,
Mr.. Bent finds.
He contradicts the popular idea that
these birds can see only in the dark
Nearly all the species have chosen the
night for their depredations and natu.
rally have well developed night vision.
but there Is abundant evidence that their
sight Is just as keen in bright sunlight.
The almost strictly nocturnal barn owl,
however. seems really bewildered in day.
light during which 1t remains drowsily
inactive, often soundly asleep.
The almost universally distributed
barred owl, Mr.. Bent fnds, has excep-
tionally keen eyesight by day as we'll as
night. The screech owl hunts only at
night, but with the pupil contracted it
also can see perfectly in the brightest
daylight. The only time Mr.. Bent was
ever able to induce one Of them to leave
lts nest voluntarily in daylight it flew
perfectly and swiftly off through the
woods for long distance, showing that
1t had very good view of its sur.
roundings
Nearly all the owls, Mr.. Bent shows,
are voracious killers and eaters, but for
the most part their hunting is beneficial
to man. Their prey consists largely of
mice and rabbits and only occasionally
DO they pounce upon beneficial bird or
visit poultry yard. But the economic
status OF some species, notably the ex.
tremely ferocious great horned owl. de-
pends largely on the kind of food avail
able for it.
RIDICULOUS as may seem the picture
OF an owl in love, Mr.. Bent records
numerous observations by himself and
others OF the courtship ceremonies of
these blg-eyed birds. Unlike other feath-
cred creatures, however. their courtship
is almost always strictly nocturnal and
carried on in secluded spots where 1t
seloom Is witnessed by human eyes.
Ihus one observer described the love-
making of the great horned owl. which
starts early in February:
When discovered the male was rare.
1ully approaching the female. which
stood on branch, and she turned awsv
Ike a timid girl. He then fondly
stroked her with his bill, bowed solemn
ly, touched or rubbed her bill with his
bowed again. sidled into a new position
from time to time and continued his
caresses. All these attentions were an.
parently bashfully received by the fe-
male. Soon thereafter the pair few
away slowly side by side"
once mated, owls of some species
make devoted partners with a remark
able attachment to home nests. USUALLY
appropriated from some other birds. to
which they return year after year. Mr..
bent tells OF one pair of barred owls in
Massachusetts - presumably the same
individuals throughout--who stuck to
one small neighborhood for "a wears
and another pair who remained faithful
to one home for 81 years Presence of
man and the cutting of woodlots around
them seemed to make no difference to
the birds.
Inc owl Is no builder 1t is satisfied
With almost any sort of nest large
enough to hold its eggs and young. In
It's home life. Mr.. Bent found, 1t is far
from cleanly bird. A curious habit of
some species Is to have a feeding nest or
perch entirely removed from the home
nest, TO which they carry all their prey.
some species of owls are bold even to
the point of stupidity, especially in the
defense OF their nests. Mr.. Bent re-
counts several instances when they have
not hesitated to attack human beings
once when he himself was climbing to
investigate nest of the great horned
owl he was driven off by an angry pair.
He says:
L felt a swoop of powerful wings
then terrific blow ON my shoulder
almost knocking me out of the tree. and
l could feel the sharp claws strike
through my clothes. AS I neared the
nest felt stunning blow behind nv
ear which nearly dazed me. and off
sailed my hat hundred feet away. Her
sharp talons had struck into nv scalp.
making two ugly wounds from which
the blood flowed freely. That was the
limit. 1 did not care to be scalped or
Knocked from the tree, so down I came"
The appetites of most owls studied by
Mr.. Bent IS almost unbelievable. They
will continue to devour mice as often
as they can catch them and the youna,
almost from birth, require an enormous
amount of fresh meat.
Some owls when captured young. Mr..
Bent found, make excellent pets and
appear affectionate and gentle. Some,
like the great horned owl, have the in
stinct of ferocious killers so deeply root
ed that it is almost impossible to tame
them.
Because of its services to man, Mr..
Bent believes, the OWL by and large, is
entitled to much better protection than
1t ever has received, although some spe-
cies undoubtedly deserve at times their
bad reputation as poultry killers.
N