Today’s first match is the first Battle of the Birds this tournament, as the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) faces off against the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), both with reputations that precede them, which may not be wholly deserved.
The great horned owl is one of Canada’s most common birds of prey, ranging across nearly all of the forested regions of North, Central and South America, even though individuals seldom move far away from the place where they are born. They hunt at night using their huge yellow eyes, but also their exceptionally keen ears. Despite its size (the owl can have a wingspan of up to 1.2 metres, its hollow bones, built for flight, keep its weight own to around 2 kilograms. They symbolize wisdom in many cultures, and if you haven’t seen these creatures in the wild, chances are you’ve heard its legendary “whoo-hoo-ooo”. Check out what Hinterland Who’s Who has to say about this majestic creature.
Facing the great horned owl is the turkey vulture, which has a PR problem. To many people, it’s big, it’s ugly and it eats dead things. But its scientific name translates to “cleansing breeze”. The turkey vulture plays a vital role in our ecosystems breaking down and taking away carrion, helping along the process to return nutrients to the soil. They also have standards, preferring meat that’s as fresh as possible. Their keen sense of smell can discover carrion that’s just 12-24 hours old. And unlike the great horned owl, they can travel as far as 200 miles in a day. They are great caretakers of the environment, and deserve our respect and their space. Click here to learn more turkey vulture facts.
So, the battle is on: will the wise great horned owl move on to the next round, or will the turkey vulture clean up? The final decision rests with you, so vote now.