Owl Spirit in the Woods

In spring, one of our resident Barred Owls decided to rest in a tree close to our yard. It was a beautiful sunny day, but windy. The play of light and shade, the blurred movement of the fir branches, and the owl completely at peace in its natural habitat lend an almost spiritual quality to this image.

We see our owl family most frequently in spring, when the whistles and calls of their young echo around our house all night. Barred Owls are probably best known for their “Who cooks for you?” calls that you can hear throughout the year, reminding us of their presence and bringing smiles to our faces. But they have a variety of vocalizations, from whistles to piercing screams, and they seem to enjoy talking to each other as well. You can find some of their calls at Barred Owls on AllAboutBirds.org.

During the day, you just have to follow the loud cries of upset songbirds, and you might find an owl sunbathing in a fir tree. In the evenings, we often find the young ones sitting on our garden fence, in our trees, and even beside the chicken coop—dark shadows that take off noiselessly into the night, only to call again from the next tree.

Despite the calm appearance of the owl in the photographs, it was constantly attacked by songbirds. It didn’t seem to care about them at all. But it was never sitting still either. Look at the gallery below to see all the different mimics and head positions. I especially love the image where its face is turned to the sun, soaking up the warm rays.