Long Eared Owl
Superbowl
For owls that are superb.
First pic: "oh shit, did I leave the oven on?"
Second: "I'm really worried about Steve's drinking.."
They both do have serious looks of concern! 😯
Crested Owl
Eurasian Eagle Owl
My vote is for this guy. I visited a place in the Alps where these guys lived in the cliffs and some local family friends said to never leave your baby under 2 months unattended because the “Uhus” can still carry them at that age.
Great Horned Owl
It IS pretty great, yeah!
I'm glad the Lesser Horned Owl is also called the Magellanic Horned Owl. I think they're great too.
Barred Owl
Oriental Bay Owl
Is it trying mind control?
You won't know until it's too late! 😁
. . . all glory to the oriental bay owl . . .
I love me some OBO!
Barking Owl
Barking Owl
Owl of the Year is back!! 🥁🎉🦉🏆
Come and vote for your favorite #Owl at @[email protected] in the most exiting tournament of the fediverse!
The qualifying rounds have started already.
#superbowl #owloftheyear24
Spectacled Owl
Ural Owl
Black and White Owl
Tawny Owl
Bare Legged Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Powerful Owl
So does it bench twice its bodyweight or is it like an owl senator? 🤔
Not infrequently, prey weight averages between 50 and 100%, whereas, in most other raptors, including large owls, there seems to be a "rule" that most prey weighs 20% or less of the raptors' own weight.
They're also one of the very few raptors where the male is larger, therefore calling the shots in the relationship.
So I guess that makes the answer to your question: yes.
Chaco Owl
Spotted Owl
It's true! I spotted it!
I never stopped believing in you! 😁
Burrowing!
Saw Whet!
Less Filling!
Great Taste!
Mmm....tough with a pronounced rodent flavor! 🫢
Me: I won’t vote for all the owls
Also me: [votes for all the owls]
I think most of the fun comes from having the difficult choices.
A few people chimed in last year that we shouldn't be pitting them against each other, that it's not a competition and we should love them all equal, etc.
That's the whole point of the contest! They're all great, so how does one choose?! It's a challenge for us, not for the birds, they're just pictures.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the contest, and I look forward to hearing about everyone's difficult decisions! It's a ton of work for me, but at least I don't have to decide anything once I have the bracket made, then it's up to you!
I try to stay impartial during things, but it was shocking seeing Great Horned and Eagle knocked out in the first rounds last year.
I'm curious to see if they do better this year.
There's also a ton of great new owls coming next round, some of which I don't think I've even had a chance to cover yet, so there's new and exciting new birds for you to fall in love with! I'm anxious to see which ones you all like!
I was just thinking the same as I scrolled through this list! Can’t remember who they were up against but it must have been a tough seed. GHO is and will always be my absolute favorite, partly because their expressions are so cat-like and partially because their hoot is the best IMO.
I've thought about doing a blind "hoot off" where there are unlabeled clips of hoots, but some owls are tough to find equal quality recordings of. GHO is top tier with its hoot, no denying it!
GHO lost out to one of last year's surprise juggernauts, the Flammulated Owl. Flammy is a stunning owl too, so I was stunned, but glad to see a less common owl get so popular for a bit.
Here's the whole bracket for reference:
What if your SO upvotes all owls, too? :D
Thankfully she comes from a very long line of strongly opinionated people! 😆
I think there were 2 ties last year, but neither was a tough decision for her. She knows she's the tiebreaker though, and takes the responsibility with the utmost sincerity! She's the one that really kickstarted my interest in owls after all.
@[email protected] Unfortunalety the edit has not fediverse to Sharkey. That's common but if you add it from the start next time, it will not be a problem. I will respond to this post with a comment with the hashtag so they are added. Thanks for alway working so hard 😊
I will do my best to remember!
I'm glad you are having fun. ☺️