My dream is to see a Great Gray Owl. They are somewhere in the Blue Mountains in Oregon but birders keep spots pretty secret. Someday! I've only in recent years finally seen owls: Northern Pygmy Owl at a campsite this fall, plenty of Barn owls flitting by in rural areas, burrowing owls in Colorado and Eastern Oregon, Barred Owls are somewhat common even just hiking around the Portland Metro Area, and several Great Horned Owls at our lovely Ridgefield NWR. Here's a shot of what I think is a juvenile:

I have only seen two owls in my life, both were the Great Horned Owl and in December of two different years, several years apart. The first siting was in December, 2004 during a rare snowfall. The Great Horned Owl was sitting on a branch of a decaying tree along the right of way behind my house, not far from a tributary of the Brazos River. Due to the moonlight and the reflected snow, I could see very well the ear tufts with a chunky built bird. The other siting occurred in a grove of trees across the street from my house. I was out that night photographing my house with its newly strung  Christmas lights, when I heard some rustling of leaves behind me and a neighborhood cat named Midnight went running across the street into my flowerbeds to escape from a Great Horned Owl who was giving chase. It was a close call for Midnight and I saw him around later on in the week. My local HOA has removed both the trees along the right of way and the mixed grove of trees across from my house, so my chances of seeing owls close to my home are remote unless I travel to go "owling", which I may do soon. It is December of the year and a good time to see my friends, the owls.I have no pictures, only memories.

As a kid growing up, we had family friends with a barn owl living on their bookshelf. They found it in their yard as a young owlet ("who threw that cotton wool on our lawn?", was their line) and remained in their house for many years. Apparently it used to leave during the night to go hunting and then return to his bookshelf in the morning. I wish I had paid more attention to it all those years ago, I didn't even realize then how special that was! :)

Great horned owls are common in our area - Platte River Valley in NE We get to hear them call for a partner at night, and can catch a reply most of the time. Have also seen Burrow Owls in our pasture one season. Years ago - Most unusual was seeing a snowy owl in a field during the day in early to late spring.  I always wondered if this sighting was ok, or if it had something wrong.  Only saw it once.

I have seen an owl in real life. It was getting dark and I saw a huge bird that look like it had ear tufts that was sitting on top of a pine tree that was in my backyard. Right away I noticed it was the Great Horned Owl was so fascinating to see since I never seem them unless I hear them at night. I was on school trip for college and we went to a park that kept wildlife that were injured and being taken care of. I noticed they had raptor birds and an Owl that was the Barred Owl.

I was a young girl when I had my first owl sighting. It was a picturesque, snowy, winter day, when a barn owl landed on the top of my wooden swing set, on full display. My grandmother and mother called me quietly over to the window to see. I was completely captivated; it was the most magical thing I'd ever seen, and thus began my love for owls. As an adult, I still remember that moment like it was yesterday but would do anything to travel back in time to experience it once more!

I live in South Jersy and spend many days and nights at the Jersey shore. However,  I have never seen an owl.

Thanks for this course!  We lived several years near Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park and had many chances to see Great Horned Owls.  In the summer of 2013 some chicks were trained just outside our yard.  Sometimes we would wake to find one in the eaves above our front deck.  I grew to love them!  We moved closer to Denver in 2017 and I was treated to my only Snowy Owl sighting in an irruption.  There were birders flocking from all over to see it hanging around Standley Lake just after Christmas.

eastern screech owl, north of Boston, MA, October 2021

My husband, daughter and I were camping in Sebastian, Fl. a few years ago.  As we approached our campsite after fishing... we were surprised by 2 very small owls on a branch above us.. I suspect they were screech owls, yet I never heard them ...   We are living on 2 acres in central Florida.. we do see owls very rarely. I am loving trying to figure out what kind they are. Currently, I believe we have seen a barn owl... it was massive and the mate was nearby as well. I took this course to attempt to encourage them to stay, and to identify more species as we explore in the evenings.

Owls have always eluded me. I kept hearing others talk about their sightings but I never could see one myself. This summer that finally changed when this Barred Owl took off out of some underbrush right next to my daughter (scaring her in the process with its great wingspan). All was good, though, because he posed for photos after…

We live in north Texas and have Eastern Screech Owls that nest in our yard every year. Unfortunately, the male (a red morph) disappeared this past spring- I feel certain the victim of a Great Horned Owl who hunts in our yard. This was the fourth year the pair had made our yard home. The female is a grey morph. We named the pair Chidi and Eleanor after characters in the comedy, The Good Place. After Chidi’s demise last spring, Eleanor quickly found a new mate - another grey morph who was smaller than Chidi. They had only two chicks this season. A small brood compared to some years where there were four. We keep a nest box and it makes a safe place for them to raise their young. Eleanor has a favorite holly shrub she sits in most days - including today October 30th. She’ll hang around until spring and we’ll be eagerly awaiting to see if the replacement mate comes back. The photo is of her last spring trying to tolerate my curiosity and camera. 

We had a pair of great horned owls that hooted by our bedroom window (in Amagansett, NY) at dusk and dawn for years.  In the summer of this year they were continually chased away by crows.  We haven't seen them in a while but I pray they will return.

We live in Orange Beach, AL, and our home is situated along a bay with a marshy back yard area. We have great horned owls in our cul de sac, and they often spend time in our pine treed front yard. For the last few years, they have overtaken an Osprey nest in our neighbor’s pine tree in the back marsh. It’s so exciting to see and hear them all year long, but especially in the winter and early spring when the eggs are in the nest. Once the young owls have hatched, we are glued to the binoculars as we wait to catch a peek at the little ones. The owls have become accustomed to us in our yard as we watch them sitting in our trees, and even after one had just caught a rabbit. I was fortunate one morning when one of the young owls must have ventured out and landed on our back porch near our bird bath. It stayed there until mid afternoon, and it knew I was in the house close by watching it.

Was lucky enough one year to have barred owls nesting in my neighbors' yard. The parents came over to hunt frequently, sometimes coming within 10 feet of us on our back deck. We watched the chicks grow up for 2-3 months until they flew away. Unforgettable experience. I will forever love barred owls. 

Yes, many times. But one especially memorable occasion was almost 30 years ago now, while hiking around in the winter woods, here in NH.        It was February, late in the day and just for fun, I had been following some coyote tracks in the snow. I stopped in a very dense thicket of small hemlock trees, searching for where the tracks had gone. I had been mostly looking down, but here I was looking at eye level at the thick, hemlock foliage and to my surprise suddenly came face to face with a tiny saw-whet owl sitting on a branch!  It was very close, I could have almost touched it, but it did not fly away. It just sat there, very still except for slightly turning its head and looked right at me. We must have stared at each other for about 10 min. The light was fading and temps. were dropping so I was the one who finally broke the stare and quietly backed away, leaving the adorable little owl in peace. I will never forget it!                           (Unfortunately, I have no photo other than the one in my memory!)

Respected Sir Kevin, 1.     Firstly I want to thank you for the excellent curated course on the Owls. A highly researched and easy to learn about the amazing world of Owls has left me spell bound. In my personal capacity I submit earnestly that this course has unfolded many a leaning despite the fact that I have been observing owls and tried my best to study them on my own by observation. 2.     I came across an owl while I was in one of the North East region of India KOKRAJHAR its is in ASSAM state. There locals are mainly BORO Tribe. One day while walking past I happen to see this magnificent bird Spot- bellied Eagle Owl  perched on the courtyard of a bamboo hut. The family greeted me and narrated to me how it had found this chick who was helpless after fallen on the ground in the near by jungle, it was being attacked by other large bird and hence they got it home. They feed it with live rodent, frogs, cricket and fish. ( the tribes themselves consume them) They were amazed to know when I told them it is one of the birds of prey and is on the top of food chain in this jungle. They were kind enough to follow my instruction but sad later when I told them they have to set it free in its habitat as it is not a pet. I was happy to see the bird was not captive, chained or tied but I did fear it would loose its birds instinct as it was very habituated with the Kids and the family members. Incidentally the tribe call it as good omen. 3.     The Bird (still young) has very sharp and long talons and a very unique eye as it is wearing shades. The ear tuff appears to long for the age. The wing span is quite large and is well feathered despite the bulk it appears this particular bird weighed approx 1.5-2 kg. (I had no measurement device at that moment the data is self assessment) The digits are very strong and the talons can rip any thing in the wild. The has a good curvature to tear of flesh the hind digits and talons are as strong as front which can easily carry a prey. It is a tall Owl. The Bird would stay in the shade most of the time in day, but as the evening would fall it would come out in the open and would perch on branches near by tree. 4.    All the above are my observation and may not tally with learned research works. I once again thank you for the wonderful course. Please let me know how can I ask quarries? As of now my query is, Is Buukbook and Barking owl same species? Pardon me for my ignorance. Thanking You Yours Sincerely Krish @Krishnandu

Western Maryland Swallow falls state park

We have Western Screech Owls and Great Horned Owls near me.  I have seen Great Horned Owls nests with owlets and a Great Horned Owl alone.  One night I was throwing a ball to my dog in the backyard when something swooped down and tried, I think, to attack the ball.  I was quite surprised and saw the bird fly into the lower branches of a nearby tree.  I could see the eyes of the bird from where I stood and could see it continued to watch the ball as I threw it to my dog.  We later figured out it was a Western Screech owl.  It was late at night so I didn't get a very good photo of the western screech owl, but I have several pictures of the Great Horned Owl families.

I once saw an owl at dusk near the Ottawa River when we were on a White Water Rafting trip. It was an awesome sight. Now that I have spent some time with this course, I believe it was a Barred Owl. It lives in that habitat. Some people from Puru who were on the trip, said that it was a bad omen to see an Owl. I thought it was incredibly cool.

I have seen a Great Gray Owl at Sax Zim Bog in Minnesota during the winter. A stunning site.

last year i had the great fortune of having a great horned owl in my elm tree in the backyard . Initially, I thought it was a cat. but then it moved and i knew right away it was an owl. i had lived in the city all my life for 40 plus years and i have not ever seen one owl. i would sit outside at a far distance just watching this owl. I was fascinated about learning about owls.  I have taken pictures, and recorded this owl "hooting" at dusk. Such a great gift. My neighbors who are indigenous, say that it is sometimes regarded as a death omen, but also of new change growth, and wisdom. It was actually this owl who inspired me to look at birds and learn more about birds and i became quite passionate about birdwatching. I did not see "Buddy" as I affectionately named it all that winter. Then, this year i hear a great horned owl calling again outside my window. I looked up and there was his same coloured great horned owl. Could this be the same one i saw last year? I will never know.

Hello. Thanks for the course, I have learned a lot. Yes!. I have had the opportunity to see several owls in the wild. Several that have appeared in the course, less the striped owl. I share some photos of the owls that I have seen in my country. I hope you likes it I also remember very especially my first owl, when I was barely 7 years old, my father came to the house where my grandmother lived (in a rural area of Saboyá, Boyacá, Colombia) with one of my uncles, they whispered among themselves and then they called us to see a little "snowflake" a chick of Megascops choliba, since then my love for owls. Black and White Owl Stygian Owl Striped-Owl (juv)

My wife and I have been photographing the family of Barred Owls that live in Mead Botanical Gardens since 2013. My wife did a great oil painting of the mother owl in 2014. This is the father owl, on the ground next to me, then in mid 2019. 

I saw a Great Horned Owl when I was a volunteer working at a monarch reserve.