Into the Woods with Curio: Owl at Twilight

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14)

It was dusk when we drove up to our driveway entrance. As we turned in, I noticed an owl was perched in the tree on the opposite side of the road, perfectly silhouetted against the last glow of sunset. We stopped for a better look, but as I lifted up my binoculars the owl shifted its stance, then flew silently over the road and into the ravine.

Have you ever seen an owl? If so, do you recall how it happened? Did you go looking for it, or did you just come across it, unexpectedly?

You never know when you will see an owl. One of the reasons for this is that most owls are nocturnal, so are active only during the nighttime. The few owl species that are diurnal, that is they are active in the daytime, are the northern species: the snowy owl, the hawk owl and the great gray. During the summer months these owls experience almost 24 hours of daylight where they breed in the far north. This means they are used to being active in the daytime when they come south to spend the winters in our area. But these beautiful birds are rarely seen in Muskoka.

The barred owl, the most common owl species in Muskoka, and the owl most likely to be seen at camp, is nocturnal, as are the two other owl species that could make an appearance at Beacon - the great horned owl and the saw-whet owl. But you just never know when you might see one of these while at camp.

Even if you go looking for an owl, making sure to visit their preferred habitat when they are most likely to be there - the right place at the right time - there is still no guarantee you’ll find one. It’s not like going to the lakeshore and finding gulls, (or Canada geese) or to the shopping plaza where you’ll see pigeons or sparrows. You can try an owl prowl, which involves calling an owl using a recorded owl call, or your own voice. This often works, especially during the early spring, when owls are starting to nest. Because owl prowls are usually done at night the owls are more often heard than seen. Count it a special day when you do see an owl!

God gives us glimpses of His wisdom and majesty through His Creation. As we celebrate Christ’s birth at this time of year, we can also share this Good News with others, giving them a glimpse of who God is and why He sent the Lord Jesus into this world.