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Project Noah Nature School
Strix nebulosa
This Great Grey Owl was photographed just after performing a "snow-plunge" to grab a vole. They can crash to a snow depth roughly equal to their own body size to catch their prey. This feeding habit is thought to require superb hearing. A large Owl with an average wingspan of 56 in. The facial disk is used to focus sound.
Coniferous forests near open areas.
I found this Owl at a park that is less than a 10 minute drive from where I live. It is quite unusual for a Great Grey Owl to be seen inside the Calgary city limits. The vole is probably a Southern Red-backed vole.
Spotted on Jan 7, 2014
Submitted on Jan 23, 2014
8 Comments
Thank You Ian
Hi Alice, thanks. Yes, fell free to put it on your Facebook page.
Best,
Ian
Please Ian, may I put this picture on my Facebook page. I really think it is awesome. (alicelongmartin@gmail.com)
R.I. p vole.
Nice!
Wonderful action and information!
Thanks. I barely managed this photograph before he took off again.
Very nice!