Birdland

Fearfully Soft To Look Upon

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology calls the Great Horned Owl – with its intimidating yellow-eyed stare and deep hooting voice – the quintessential owl of storybooks. These owls have excellent night vision and are fierce predators, with strong talons that can take down birds and mammals that are even larger than they are. But, notes the Cornell Lab, “they also dine on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs.” This family was photographed at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge northeast of Park Hill.

Photo by Park Hill resident Mark Silverstein