A Great Horned Owl

Owls are always special creatures to see

Late one afternoon I was driving with some friends along a farm field in Marana when we saw this Great Horned Owl. Its eyes were half shut for a minute and then it opened them very wide! Great Horned Owls have excellent night vision but they also have great vision during daylight hours. You can learn more about owls' amazing eyes at the American Bird Conservancy by clicking here

Our truck was about 20 yards away and we remained in the vehicle to let it serve as a blind, but the Great Horned Owl was curious. It turned to the side with a slow step. We thought the owl might fly off. It certainly looked ready to.

Then it turned back and leaned forward as if to get a better look.

Moments later the owl did fly off and it landed in the middle of another thick mesquite tree a short distance away. It was deeply hidden. We drove off, leaving it alone.

You can see some of my older posts about owls by using the search engine at my Subtack site. Use the "magnifying glass" icon 🔍 in the upper right and type in the word "owls" to search.

It is now the breeding season for Great Horned Owls in southern Arizona. They have already paired up and chosen their nest site. They don't build nests. Instead, they will occupy a nest that was used by other raptors the previous year. During this time of year when the owls remain near one spot for a few months, Great Horned Owls may be seen more regularly. If you know of a Great Horned Owl nest in the Tucson area and would like to share the location with me, please email me directly or message me privately with the information. I would love to observe the owls and perhaps take a few photos. Thanks!