[4]	The smallest was a Northern Saw Whet Owl (left in photo), so named because its hoot sounds like a saw being sharpened on a whet stone. It weighs only ¼ pound.
	The next smallest was an Eastern Screech Owl (right in photo). It’s hoot sounds like a short repeated whistle.
[5]	Next came a beautiful Barred Owl, named for the bar-like stripes on its chest. Ths species usually has a 3-foot wingspan, but this particular owl is in the Wilson’s care because it’s missing a wing. The Barred Owl is one of two large owls that are found in this area. It’s hoot is distinctive because it sounds like someone saying “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you – all?”
[6]	The second large owl found in this area is the Great Horned Owl, also known as the “Tiger of the Woods” because of the striped marking on its feathers. Marcia pointed out that the Great Horned Owl is different from the Barred Owl because its feathers are darker and it has feathers sticking out above each eye that look like horns.
[7]	The Snowy Owl came out of its box flapping, but Marcia was prepared and quickly got it calmed down and resting on her hand. All of the owls are always securely tethered whenever they are exhibited in public. Marcia explained that the Snowy Owl is a good example of a creature that is adapted to the arctic and pointed out its furry legs and feet, as well as the obvious – its white features that camoflage it against the snow. It’s favorite food is lemmings, which are rodents that live in the arctic.

The remaining two owls, neither of which are native to this continent, have recently been added to the Wilson’s aviary because they were born in captivity and would be unlikely to develop the skills needed to survive in the wild.

[8]	Marcia introduced the Eurasian Eagle Owl as generally being regarded as the largest of the owl species. This particular owl is on the small side, weighing about 5-1/2 pounds with a wingspan of not quite six feet. It has horns like the Great Horned Owl and intense orange eyes.
[9]	The last owl to come on the scene was a Spectacled Owl, a species that is native only to South America. This particular owl is just a 3-1/2 month old baby, so it still has a lot of its baby plumage and has not fully developed the “spectacles” that give the Spectacled Owl its name.

Although both Wilsons clearly have a passion for owls and have a fondness for each owl in their aviary, they do not keep the owls as pets. It is important that the owls be cared for, respected, and treated as wild animals. The Wilsons have both state and federal permits that allow them to keep owls that are permanently disabled or otherwise unable to fend for themselves in the wild. When they are not on the road, the owls live in an aviary attached to the Wilson’s home in Dunstable. The Wilsons have 11 owls, which eat over fifty mice a day. They have a special freezer for keeping a supply of mice on hand a microwave that thaws them before feeding time, otherwise known as “hooty duty.” In order to give the owls the respit they need from their busy life on the road, the aviary is not open to the public.

The Wilson’s permit actually requires them to use the owls for educational purposes. But even if there was no such requirement, the Wilsons would probably be out running their educational programs anyway. They are both deeply committed to environmental education and helping to preserve the kind of open space that is needed to maintain wildlife, such as owls.

"We're teaching the kids what is in their backyards and neighborhoods," said Marcia. "They're learning about wildlife habitats and preservation and wildlife behavior, and we're teaching them to notice their surroundings. We get a lot of satisfaction from sharing and teaching people about owls."

If you ever get an opportunity to attend one of the Wilson’s Eyes on Owls programs, don’t miss it! It will be an experience to remember all your life. Whoooo knows? You might even find yourself looking around for owl pellets and trying a hoot or two the next time you’re out in the woods.

A Few Things to Know About Owls

• Throughout their presentations, Marcia and Mark constantly answering questions from curious participants and share a wealth of general information about owls in the process. Here are a few of the things they shared at the Dunstable Library:
• The smaller owls mainly eat mice, where as the larger owls will eat anything from mice to small animals, such as a woodchuck, which is a good reason to keep cats and small dogs indoors at night. If an owl kills an animal that is larger than it can carry, it will eat its fill and then cache the food for a later meal.
  Owls eat their whole catch. Then, after the meat is digested, owls cough up the bones and fur in clumps called “owl pellets”. Finding owl pellets laying on the ground is a good way to identify places where you are likely to see an owl.
• Owl eyes don’t turn in their sockets. They turn their heads instead. However, owls can turn their heads around almost 180 degrees. Owl eyes are huge in proportion to their bodies. If a man had eyes that were proportionally as large as an owls, the man’s eyes would weigh 4 pounds each.
• Owl talons have a very strong grasp. The talons of a Great Horned Owl can apply pressure up to 225 pounds per square inch.
• Small owls are cavity nesters, which means they like to make their nests inside hollow trees. However, there are often not enough trees for all the owls. So, people can help the owls by putting up “owl nesting boxes,” which can be purchased or made by hand.
• Some owls mate for life and many species, including the Great Horned Owl that can be found in southeastern Massachusetts, can live over 40 years. Some species hatch only one owlet (baby owl) a year, while others may hatch as many as five owlets in the same nesting season. The parents feed baby owls a diet of only meat until their digestive system has matured enough to produce owl pellets.
• Crows don’t like owls because they are predators and are capable of killing a crow. Sometimes, a group of crows will gang up on an owl in a behavior called “mobbing,” which is designed to drive the owl away from their territory. This activity can sometimes be a clue to where you can see an owl.
• Lawn pesticides are toxic to owls. The pesticides get into the food chain through the mice and other rodents, which are then eaten by the owls. Lawn pesticides are also harmful to household pets, such as dogs and cats.