# how many owls have you seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 30, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523 "2016-08-30T23:51:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/1 "2016-08-30T23:51:21Z")
in the wild, I mean. I ask because I saw one this morning and it was only my second _ever_\*. I have heard more than that, however. this morning’s was a large brown owl and the first one I saw (decades ago) was a Great White. is it rare just because they usually are asleep during the day or maybe it isn’t rare and everyone else is seeing owls right and left. 🙂 is this mundane enough for everyone? 😛 \*IRL, I mean - on facebook I see them constantly ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/2 "2016-08-30T23:55:08Z")
I see Great Horned owls every year or so in our neighborhood. One was in a tree in our backyard last fall: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/8445/29315992686_fb070a1208_b.jpg "IMG\_3107") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/29315992686/in/dateposted-public/) ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/3 "2016-08-30T23:57:46Z")
They’re actually not that hard to find during the day, if you put your mind to it. Go find a birding group and hook up with them when they go find owls. You get good at looking for footballs balancing on tree branches. Personally, I’ve seen dozens - part because of what I describe above, and part because I just pay attention. We occasionally get a barred owl hanging out in our yard. For a while when I lived in Colorado, I knew where a couple great horned owls nested, right off a road, and would go take a gander every once in a while. We get snowy owls here not infrequently, and it would be easy for me to go find one, but I’m too lazy nowadays. I guess what I’m saying is, if you set your mind to it, you can see owls, assuming you lives somewhere that has owls, with a little bit of effort. They’re not all that hard to find if you know what you’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/4 "2016-08-31T00:10:28Z")
Burrowing owls are not uncommon here in the southwest. There’s a vacant lot several miles from here where we see them every time we drive by. They are small for an owl, maybe 9 inches (23 cm) tall with long legs. I’ll try to post a photo my brother took showing four of them outside their burrow, which is often an abandoned prairie dog den. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/5 "2016-08-31T00:10:45Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I see Great Horned owls every year or so in our neighborhood. > One was in a tree in our backyard last fall: > [IMG\_3107 | beowulff | Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/29315992686/in/dateposted-public/) nice photo - really blends in, you notice? you are right, Athena I must just need more practice looking for them ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/6 "2016-08-31T00:18:11Z")
I’ve seen a bunch. But only because my wife is one of those nutzo 4th generational birders and drags me along sometimes. It’s kinda fun, but I don’t see the obsession. And before I met her, I don’t think I ever remember seeing an owl. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/7 "2016-08-31T00:20:41Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > nice photo - really blends in, you notice? Yes. I heard something, and I looked up in the tree, at the source of the sound. I didn’t see anything at first. Then, after awhile I saw _something_, but wasn’t sure what it was. Then he either opened his yes or looked at me, and Bingo! there he was. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/8 "2016-08-31T00:24:10Z")
I have seen a few over the years in both New England and Colorado but not that often because I don’t look for them and I don’t generally pay much attention. I don’t think I have ever seen a Bald Eagle in the wild however even though they aren’t all that rare these days. If you want wild turkeys though, I have got you covered. They run around in my yard like they own the place. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/9 "2016-08-31T00:28:43Z")
[Here’s the photo](http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/Bumbershoot-pics/Misc/Burrowing%20owls_zpsqowxwwke.jpg) my brother took. This is south of Albuquerque. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/10 "2016-08-31T00:33:58Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > [Here’s the photo](http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/Bumbershoot-pics/Misc/Burrowing%20owls_zpsqowxwwke.jpg) my brother took. This is south of Albuquerque. ooh, I see those on fb all the time, they are adorable. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/11 "2016-08-31T00:39:45Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > [Here’s the photo](http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/Bumbershoot-pics/Misc/Burrowing%20owls_zpsqowxwwke.jpg) my brother took. This is south of Albuquerque. Oh, yeah. [We have those cuties out here, too.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/28728845573/in/dateposted-public/) ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/12 "2016-08-31T00:46:05Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Oh, yeah. > [We have those cuties out here, too.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/28728845573/in/dateposted-public/) You have tiny elf owls as well! I’ve never seen one of those. They sometimes make their home in a saguaro cactus. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/13 "2016-08-31T00:51:00Z")
I’ve seen bunches that were captive, but only two in the wild. They fly much more ungangily than I imagined. One looked like someone had thrown a cat across the road. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/14 "2016-08-31T01:22:13Z")
Probably a couple of dozen. I hear 'em all summer yelling back and forth, though. Most of the ones I’ve seen are Great Horned or Eastern Screech owls, but did see a Snowy at Logan Airport in Boston, once. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/15 "2016-08-31T01:53:57Z")
About 6 years ago, I had an injured owl trapped on my deck. I had to call animal control to come get it. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/16 "2016-08-31T02:04:00Z")
We have a screech owl in our backyard but have never seen him. The only owl I’ve ever seen I real life was at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/17 "2016-08-31T02:12:05Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > but did see a Snowy at Logan Airport in Boston, once. that’s what I meant when I posted “Great White” which I now remember is actually a shark. :smack: but huge, omg that silent white owl was really big :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/18 "2016-08-31T02:19:35Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I don’t think I have ever seen a Bald Eagle in the wild however even though they aren’t all that rare these days. Really? I stopped even paying attention to them in Colorado, they were THAT common. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/19 "2016-08-31T02:28:24Z")
I’ve seen several at a distance. I saw one real up close when I was 15. Out in the woods behind our house I looked up and an owl was perched on a branch just a little higher than my head. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523/20 "2016-08-31T03:06:46Z")
Quite a few, but I have the advantage of working evenings ;). Great Horned Owls and Barn Owls are particularly common where I work. I once had a GHO land about 7 or 8 feet from me on a light fixture on an elevated catwalk. I think I was backlit and it didn’t realized I was standing there frozen for a few minutes. But my favorite encounter was with a Barred Owl that I ran into in a South Carolina swamp. It was broad daylight, but the undergrowth in this one section was so thick and dark it was like walking into a swampy cave at twilight. I stepped into this area and ten feet away was this owl sitting out in the “open” and regarding me balefully. It then made this particularly [disturbing-sounding hoot](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/sounds) and took off, flying about just a few feet in front me into the depths of this stygian swamp. It was all _extremely_ gothic :D. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-owls-have-you-seen/764523.md?page=2)