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Strigidae
Owls, my favourite birds Owls are outstanding birds! Is it their silent hunting in the poor evening light and at night, their distinctive appearance - huge head and forward looking eyes or maybe the echoes of ancient myths and tales of woodland goblins and bewitched owl-shaped princesses? However, since my childhood owls were my favourite birds. They even outranked my ambition for the diurnal birds of prey. As a wildlife artist, birder and ornithologists - I never lost my contact to these feather-armoured knights of the twilight. When in 1980 my book Birds of Prey of the World (Parey, Berlin) was printed, I had the idea for a similar project on the strigiformes of the world. So I began to collect every bit of information about this subject - and, remember: the Internet wasn't in reach for the common wildlife artist then. I filed scientific articles, photos and colour-copies of books, sketches and other descriptions back to 1758, photos from living owls in the wildlife or captivity. Detailed lists of measures and colours of skins, weights and feathers grew larger and larger. Beside that I visited zoological gardens, ornithological institutes and a lot of private owl-keepers, birders and ornithologists. In the early nineties I wrote three different annotated checklists about Strigiformes. The first included all recent complete taxa and their distribution. A second listed all-important measurements and weights linked to an index of photos and paintings. The third list was a full description of plumages and soft parts combined with a detailed bibliography. In this situation Claus König head of the Natural Science Museum at Stuttgart and ambitioned ornithologist asked me if I would be interested in a project which should result in nothing minor than the standard guide to all owls of the world. The publisher would be Pica Press, Sussex. Of course I was, wasn't I? The three checklists were the basic-stock for our further work. In the following years I examined some thousands of skins and mounted owls in all-important museums of the world, only supported by my dear wife Christel. Within nearly three years I painted all different taxa and morphes that were sometimes known only by one skin... In 1999 the book was published… leaving me more time for birding and outdoor projects and, last but not least for new paintings of my favourite birds, guess which? Friedhelm Weick According to the IOC there are 199 species in the family Strigidae - Typical Owls; they are: |
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Burrowing Owls Athene cuniculariahttp://www.owlpages.com/species/athene/cunicularia/Default.htmThe first published report of the Burrowing Owl was by Giovanni Iganzio Molina, an Italian Jesuit priest stationed in Chile. His description appeared in a book he wrote on the natural history of the country in 1782. Pernambuco Pygmy Owl Glaucidium mooreorumhttp://www.owlpages.com/species/glaucidium/mooreorum/Default.htmThe Pernambuco Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium mooreorum) was first described in December 2002 when two study skins were examined in Pernambuco, Brazil. The skins were originally collected in 1980 and thought to be subspecies of the Least Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium minutissimum) or Amazonian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium hardyi). Upon closer examination of the skins, and vocalisations of the birds also obtained in 1980, it was concluded that this was a new species. The name mooreorum was chosen in honour of Dr. Gordon Moore and his wife Betty, who have made significant contributions to conservation... Short-eared Owl Asio flammeushttp://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/short-eared-owl.htmWalking the ancient driftway through Halvergate marshes, we paused by High's derelict drainage mill to watch the aerial manoeuvres of a mixed flight of golden plovers and lapwing... Short-eared Owl Asio flammeushttp://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i3670id.htmlOften easily identified by behavior alone, the Short-eared is most readily confused with the Long-eared Owl... Short-eared Owl Asio flammeushttp://www.flammeus.itOn this site one can find scientific papers, news, events, wonderful photogallery with important photo and news of Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus. Anyone who wants to collaborate with we can write in. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeushttp://www.owlpages.com/species/asio/flammeus/Default.htmA Danish bishop and amateur naturalist, Erich Ludvigsen Pontoppidan, published the first description of this Owl in 1763... Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca<http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/birds/snowyowl.htmThis large, white owl has a rounded head and yellow eyes. Both sexes have dark bars and spots although they are heavier on the larger female; old males may be pure white. This usually silent bird will sometimes utter a shrill whistle and hoarse croak on breeding grounds... Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca<http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Bubo&species=scandiacusThe Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organise plants and animals. The name scandiaca is a Latinised word referring to Scandinavia, as the Owl was first observed in the northern parts of Europe. Some other names for the Snowy Owl are Arctic Owl, Great White Owl, Ghost Owl, Ermine Owl, Tundra Ghost, Ookpik, Scandinavian Nightbird, White Terror of the North, and Highland Tundra Owl. It is the official bird of Quebec... |
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useful reading |
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DVD - British Birds of Prey
Narrated & Filmed by Paul Doherty 90 minutes 28 species covered ?17.95 Bird Images DVD Guides, 28 Carousel Walk, Sherburn in Elmet, N Yorks LS25 6LP, United Kingdom http://www.birdvideodvd.comSee Fatbirder Review
Owls
A Guide to the Owls of the World by Claus Konig, Friedhelm Weick and Jan-Hendrik Becking - Pica Press 1999ISBN: 1873403747
Buy this book from NHBS.com
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Australasian Raptor Association
http://www.ausraptor.org.au/The Australasian Raptor Association was established in 1979 to promote the study, conservation and management of diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey (raptors) throughout Australasia.
Hawk & Owl Trust
http://www.hawkandowl.org/Welcome to The Hawk and Owl Trust Website. Owls, hawks, eagles, falcons - magnificent birds like these symbolise freedom and wild places. The Hawk and Owl Trust is dedicated to ensuring that birds of prey survive in the wild for future generations to enjoy. Founded in 1969 because of concerns about the alarming decline in numbers of peregrines and other raptors, today we work to conserve all wild birds of prey and their habitats in the face of mounting human pressures...
International Owl Society
http://www.international-owl-society.com/The intention being that this should provide a world-wide forum for all those interested in owls. Set out below are the objectives and intentions of this organisation and everybody with an interest in this Family are cordially invited to apply for membership. Most certainly the International Owl Society cannot succeed without an energetic and committed membership and the Council looks forward to receiving your active support. Any suggestions as to how the objectives and intentions may be expanded or amended to better reflect the interests of the Members are most welcome and will be carefully considered...
World Owl Trust
http://www.owls.org/We are the only organisation that works solely on owl conservation on a global scale, and we have members in many countries around the world. Our conservation programmes are a last ditch attempt to protect populations of endangered owls until we have succeeded in restoring their habitat. This is the purpose of our Owl Centre. If we succeed in breeding from the birds we hold we can reintroduce them back into to the wild. This has already been achieved for the European Eagle Owl and British Barn Owl.
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Screech Owl Sanctuary
http://www.owlsanct.freeserve.co.uk/My first close encounter with an owl came during the spring of 1966 when I was eight years old and we lived in an old farmhouse in the heart of the china clay country. One evening when out with my father on the farm, I spotted a fluffy grey ball lying on the ground outside the barn. My vivid memory was to stare at this red-rimmed bleary-eyed creature not having a clue what it was. And as only a child would think I decided to give it a quick poke to see how it would react, and when the creature didn't attempt to bite me, I thought it would be safe to pick it up but very quickly threw it in my father's direction when its sharp talons pierced my fingers.
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Aves de Rapina Brasil
http://www.avesderapinabrasil.comWelcome to the biggest Brazilian website dedicated to raptors. The webmaster, Willian MenQ, is a graduate student in Biological Sciences. He works in conservation and ornithology in the region the northwest of the Paraná, studying raptors…
CD - All Europe's Owls
http://www.oriolusforlag.se/en.htmlText in Swedish and English. 77 voices of all 13 European owl species, between 2 and 9 different voices per species. Not only territorials calls of males but even contacting calls, voices of females and owlets. CD, about 68 min...
Christmas Island Hawk-Owl Ninox natalis National Recovery Plan
http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/n-natalis/threats.htmlNational recovery plan for the Christmas Island Hawk-Owl...
Information on Owls
http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~au/owl.htm#desThe North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service (at NCSU) Extension Forestry Group has developed a series of information sheets entitled Working With Wildlifecluding one on Owls with descriptions of several owl species and tips for owl management (no photos, though).
Little Owl Athene noctua Group
http://www.gruppoitalianocivette.it/All about the Little owl [Italian]
Long-eared Owl Asio otus Survey
http://www.btinternet.com/~long.earedowl/On the night of the 3rd of March 2000 many people will join in this year’s national night of the long-eared owls survey. In the past this has been a survey which has been only conducted in South-west England, however after much pressure we have decided to extend it across the UK to whoever wishes to take part. The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) has gone through a big decline in this country, and so this survey aims to do two things; raise the awareness about the plight of the Long-eared owl in the UK, and attempt to survey Long-eared Owl numbers in this country and to use this figure and site to site information as a baseline for future surveys. On the night of the 3rd of March 2000 many people will join in this year’s national night of the long-eared owls survey. In the past this has been a survey which has been only conducted in South-west England, however after much pressure we have decided to extend it across the UK to whoever wishes to take part. The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) has gone through a big decline in this country, and so this survey aims to do two things; raise the awareness about the plight of the Long-eared owl in the UK, and attempt to survey Long-eared Owl numbers in this country and to use this figure and site to site information as a baseline for future surveys.
Owl Prowl
http://newyork.sierraclub.org/Niagara/owlprowl.htmlOutings owling...
Owling.com
http://owling.com/If you are wondering what owl is hooting out your window, are a student, hobbyist, or just enjoy the owls and nature... you are in the right place. Owling.com is a look at the North American Owls with both biology and multimedia sections to help with the identification, enjoyment, and appreciation of these awesome winged predators.
Owls of the Western Hemisphere
http://www.dynamicplanet.com/OwlAtlas/index.htmClick on a link to see the topic with the distribution map for the owl species plus other information. Some topics have pictures of the owl...
The Owl Pages
http://www.owlpages.com/Owls have fascinated man from time immemorial - to some cultures they are symbols of wisdom, while to others they are harbingers of doom and death. Here, the Owl Pages sheds some light on these mysterious creatures...
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Barred Owls Strix varia Webcam
http://www.owlcam.com/The owl cam homepage; You are cordially invited to share in the adventures of a pair of Northern Barred Owls (Strix varia varia) as they raise their family in a nest box in Eastern Massachusetts
Snowy Owl Video
http://www.explorebiodiversity.com/BIRDS/BirdsofWorld/video/SnowyOwl/video.htmlElliott Kennerson; a natural-history filmmaking student in Montana, has made a short film (12 mins) about snowy owls that is free to view online for anybody. Denver Holt, one of Montana’s foremost owl researchers, appears in the film...
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