Posts Tagged ‘birds’
Great Horned Owls
On any of your recent night hikes have you heard the “whooo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo” of the great horned owl? Perhaps you know them as “hoot owls.” They were given this name because they are the only owls in Ohio whose call is the traditional “hoot” we think of when we think of owl calls. This call can…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 02/04/2026
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! The Sandhill Crane is a tall elegant bird with a heavy body, soaring 6-foot wingspan, red crown of feathers on its head, and a fluffy bustle of gray plumage at its back end. This graceful long-necked avian has a loud rolling trumpet-like vocalization that can be heard for miles. Mated pairs will engage…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 01/21/2026
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! The Snowy Owl is the heaviest owl in North America and one of the largest owls in the world. It is native to the Arctic where it spends its time breeding and hunting on the tundra. While most owls are primarily nocturnal, the Snowy Owl is diurnal, active during the day. And during…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 01/14/2026
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! January is the best month to see Golden Eagles in Ohio. The enormous and regal raptor is quite rare in Ohio, with only a handful of sightings each year. The Golden Eagle has a wingspan of over 7 feet and large specimens tip the scales at 14 pounds. Their body plumage is dark…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 12/17/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! ‘Tis the season for the longest running citizen science project in the world, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Up through the 19th century, many people in North America participated in a tradition of competitive hunting on Christmas Day, seeing who could kill the most birds. But in December 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/26/2025
Gobble gobble! It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we are celebrating the Wild Turkey! Preferring woodland habitat interspersed with open spaces such as fields, pastures, and orchards, these large heavy-bodied game birds with long necks and small heads feed on the ground, strutting and striding through forests and grasslands. Adult males, or toms, weigh in at 12-25 pounds…
Read MoreNorthern Saw-Whet Owls
“I shall never forget the thrill I experienced when I first met this lovely little owl. … I had never seen so small an owl, or one so beautiful.” Arthur Cleveland Bent, Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey, Part 2, August 8, 1938. Mr. Bent was writing about the northern saw-whet owl. Of…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/19/2025
Whooooo’s ready for our upcoming owl prowl? It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we will highlight the 3 owl species we are most likely to encounter on our grounds this time of year. The Eastern Screech-owl is Ohio’s smallest and most common owl, occurring in all 88 counties. This little owl is about the size of an American…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/05/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! It’s that time of the year! That time of year when Ohio gets a chill in the air and enjoys the arrival of large flocks of the “snowbird,” also known as the Dark-eyed Junco. These cute sparrows with pink bills and long tails with flashy white outer-tail feathers are an abundant winter visitor…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 10/29/2025
Happy WildlifeWednesday! The Wood Duck is a colorful and ornate species of waterfowl found in North America, considered by many to be among the most beautiful birds. The male is particularly spectacular, with a glossy emerald head, chestnut breast, striking red eyes and bill, and other bold markings. Its stunning plumage includes intricate patterns and…
Read More