Wildlife Moment: July is prime time to scope horned owls

YAKIMA, Wash. — It’s July, which makes it a good time to look for great horned owls.

This is because the young owls have recently left their nests. These young birds have just learned to fly but are still clambering along tree branches from nests in trees or over cliff faces if they are using caves on cliffs. Even at this stage, the “baby” owls are already impressive — the size of a red-tailed hawk — though some still have downy feathers. Over the next week or so, they will develop all their feathers and become full-grown, formidable predators.

WHERE AND WHEN: Any habitat in the region that supports red-tailed hawks likely has great horned owls. Pastures with tall trees, creek or river woodland, meadow edges in the mountains, or canyon cliffs are all home to this bird. A few even inhabit Yakima neighborhoods with lots of big trees.These birds do not migrate.

A great horned owl roosting in a tree at the Yakima Training Center. (DENNY GRANSTRAND/Special to the Herald-Republic)

HOW TO SPOT ONE: Look carefully in the tall trees surrounding the Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge headquarters. These owls reside in the dense trees by the refuge office.

Great horned owls are more often heard than seen. Pairs often duet, with the females six or seven hoots faster and higher pitched, the males five notes lower and more solemn. If you spot the owl, here’s what you’ll see: a massive, hawk-sized body shaped like a beer keg and a broad head with feline “ears,” which are actually tufts of feathers. This is one of the few birds that can sometimes be identified by smell, because it’s partial to the taste of skunk meat.

CHOW TIME: The great horned owl perches on a branch, utility pole or cliff ledge and waits patiently for prey to appear, then swoops down to pounce. Cottontails, jackrabbits (at least when jacks were common around here), skunks, rats, mice and cats — yes, your precious pets — are important year-round. Porcupines, believe it or not, are also part of their diet, though these are a risky venture for the owl. Owls near marshes take ducks, geese and coots. Smaller owls are taken, too, and snakes are sought in the warmer months.

SOCIAL LIFE: These owls begin pair formation by hooting in November and hoot much more as winter progresses. As no owl builds its own nest, these birds seek a large stick nest built in prior years by a red-tailed hawk or raven. On cliff faces, they use ledges or small caves.

Two to three eggs are laid in December or January. These are incubated mostly by the female for 28 to 35 days. Both parents hunt for food once the young hatch. The young begin leaving the nest while still flightless after about five weeks and start to fly at nine to 10 weeks. As the young grow, they become quite vocal, uttering strange blood-curdling, raspy calls — which can be quite disturbing if your bedroom window is close to the owl’s nest.

WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW: Great horned owls are America’s most widespread owl, occurring from subarctic treelines all the way south to the southern tip of South America. Related species occur across Eurasia are called eagle owls, even larger and more formidable predators than our great horned owl.
• Wildlife Moment, focusing on native wildlife, typically runs in Outdoors on the first Tuesday of every month, with the cooperation of the Yakima Valley Audubon Society.