Bright Yellow Eyes of a Short-eared Owl chick – Nikon D810, f10, 1/500, ISO 320, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Owls scare some people probably because many owls are nocturnal which means they hunt and fly at night and for some people being out at nighttime is a scary time and when an owl flies by it startles them or makes them have to change their underpants as soon as they can. Barn Owls do have an eerie, other worldly call and I suppose that some people might think the same of Great Horned and Barred Owls hooting in the night.
Halloween is supposed to be a night of frights, screams and tricks and treats. I don’t get being afraid of owls, not even a little bit but somehow owls became connected to witches and witches to Halloween and now Halloween decorations include owls as often as bats and witches. That is just a fact.
Does this Short-eared Owl chick with bright yellow eyes look scary to you? It sure doesn’t to me. The young owl looks like it might be curious about the woman pointing long glass at it and that is about all. So no, I don’t think owls are scary, not even a little bit.
But Halloween is about fun and what could be more fun than seeing an owl in nature? Seeing more than one.
Owls are great.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Short-eared Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.
There is nothing like hearing the hoot of an owl in the darkness of the night. It is even better seeing one swoop from the trees. Pepe’s comment brought me a laugh.
Great pic! Actually, I get that same look from my kids when I tell them what things were like back in…”the day”. Thanks Mia.
Scary? Nope. Cute? Yup!!! (you want scary? Try trump!!! N )6
Not a darn thing scary here — just cute and cuddly (and perhaps a little sleepy or grumpy?). That facial disk is something else.
Not scared in the slightest. Envious of those who see them MUCH more often than I do.
Happy Halloween Mia! Love your owl. Funny about superstitions. My sister-in-law, born in Poland like my husband, is afraid of bats. We saw them once on a trip to So Utah and she said they’d fly in our hair. Hugs!
Beautiful!