The World Through Our Lens
The barred owl is a large typical owl native to North America. Best known as the hoot owl for its distinctive call, it goes by many other names, including eight hooter, rain owl, wood owl, and striped owl.
Our morning got off to a slow start hunkered down as we were against a cold winter day. By early afternoon, Bob and I decided that we needed some fresh air and exercise. We had heard that a Barred Owl sometimes frequents Altona Forest in Pickering, Ontario, but we never expected to actually find it. Read more
When I suggested a walk in Rouge National Urban Park one day, I jokingly said that maybe we would see an owl. About an hour later, that prediction came true when I almost walked up to a beautiful Barred Owl sitting low in a small deciduous tree. Read more
On a visit to the West Cranberry Tract at Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby, in Ontario, another keen birder pointed out to Bob and me this Barred Owl (Strix varia) perched high in a tree. Completely at ease, it was wiling away the day quite oblivious of the interested observers nearby. Read more
On a bitterly cold January day with temperatures of -20 Celsius when the wind chill was factored in, Bob and I, drove out to Thickson’s Woods in Whitby, Ontario, because we had heard that two Great Horned Owls make their home in that unique small forest. As it turned out we didn’t find the Great Horned Owls, but did find this Barred Owl sitting in the woods. Read more
Bob and I were hiking along a small creek called Duffin’s Creek, in Markham, Ontario. As the sun was sinking lower and time was getting on, we were making our way back towards the trailhead when Bob’s eye suddenly registered an usual silhouette in a tree when he glanced to the right. There sat a Barred Owl that had seen us coming. Read more