Bodega Cats

Here is a wonderful interview article on Bodega cats. For those of you not familiar with these felines, they are part of the family of small family groceries called bodgeas. They prowl the aisles and make sure that there are no pests around. Michelladonna, a TikTok NYC sensation has recently video'd many of these beloved cats as reported in Gothamist:

Here is an excerpt:

One of the stars in the world of “animal content” is “Shop Cats,” a local show in which host and Ridgewood native Michelladonna employs her charm and wit to speak to shop managers and locals about their beloved neighborhood felines. A typical video gets around 1 million views on TikTok and hundreds of effusive comments.

The series launched in September 2024 and has quickly taken off on TikTok and Instagram. Its followers in New York and abroad come for the cats and stay for the whimsy. Over the course of an episode's 90-second runtime, viewers are transported to a bodega cat's universe of shelves and produce, while shopkeepers and patrons tell stories about their own relationships with the neighborhood pets.

The show is produced by Mad Realities, a production company focused on internet videos.

Gothamist spoke with Ma and the rest of creative team behind Shop Cats — creative producer Drew Rosenthal and host Michelladonna — about conceiving their show, going viral, paying tribute to New York City and more. Below is an edited version of their conversation.

The first viral video I saw from Shop Cats was of Kiki the cat. Did you guys have a moment when you knew this was going to take off?

Rosenthal: Kiki's our most viral video. I think it's over 6 million views between all platforms right now, and that was the first thing we ever shot for the show. She’s my local bodega cat on the corner right next to where I live, and I see her pretty much every day.

A day after we posted the first episode it was at 200,000 views and we already had over 10,000 followers on TikTok. That ratio of viewers to people hitting the follow button was crazy. I’ve never seen that before and I've made lots of viral content, which really goes to show that people were waiting for this.

Has there been anything that surprised you about going so viral so quickly?

Michelladonna: As a New Yorker, you get on a train, someone starts staring at you, we're gonna have a problem, right? Now, I have to think about it: Are you looking at me because you want to fight or because you want to talk about how cute cats are? [laughs]

Rosenthal: It takes a little bit of time to like mic up and get settled for our shoots, 15 minutes. Now, there's consistently at least a couple people in that time that are like, "Are you the shop cats lady?" We were about to start shooting in front of a store the other day, and a truck driver passed by, rolled down the window and started shouting, “Is that the cat lady?”

I’m sure the requests are flooding in. How are you covering the rest of the cats of the city?

Ma: Everyone wants us to go see their cat. When people DM us or leave comments we're listening — when people tag us in Tiktok videos, like, “Go see this store manager” — we put them on a map for ourselves, and when we shoot, we go and check the map and just drop by. That’s been a big part of it. The community is kind of sharing where they want us to go. There’s also something that we launched recently, the first-ever cat mayor election of New York City.

Rosenthal: When we first made this show, a big question was, “Are there even enough cats in New York City to film? Are we going to run out of cats?” Right now, we have roughly 450 cats on our internal map.

When we accept a DM that's like, “Hey, you gotta check out this cat at this intersection,” 90% of the time they also have pictures and videos locked and loaded. There's no limit to the types of cat stories that we can tell on this platform. There’s just endless possibilities, and we're never going to run out of cats to film.

Posted in Favorite Sites, Newsmakers, Pawpourri, That's Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

Parrot is ‘Attention Hog’ and Smart as Human Toddler, Owners Say

Okay, I know I am not to play favorites but my favorite birds are parrots and owls. So I am tickled to read about Apollo, a parrot profiled in the Washington Post, who identifies objects, colors and some numbers. He can also distinguish among glass, metal and paper.

Here is a short excerpt:

Apollo is an African gray parrot with a deep love of pistachios and millions of social media followers. He also has the brain power of a human toddler, according to his owners. “He’s very bubbly, he’s very outgoing, he wants to really perform for everybody,” said Dalton Mason, one of Apollo’s owners. “He’s a complete and total showoff.”

The couple have trained their pet parrot to identify objects, colors and some numbers. He can ask “What’s this?” and then correctly distinguish among glass, metal and paper. He also greets humans with “Hey, buddies” and can complete simple puzzles.

Apollo has a lot of fans. On a TikTok account run by the Masons, the bird has 2.9 million followers. He also has 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube, and 1.3 million followers on Instagram. He started making headlines back in 2022. “We attribute his social media success to his nature,” Dalton said. “He’s an attention hog.”

The Masons now dedicate their lives to training Apollo. They both do it full time, because the earnings from his social media accounts provide an income for them. “We spend a lot of time with him,” Victoria said, explaining that raising a pet parrot requires work, as they can be loud, destructive and demanding. (In one viral video, Apollo says “I want fresh water.”)

African gray parrots have become known for their innate intelligence and capacity for learning, in large part due to the research of Irene Pepperberg, a scientist specializing in animal cognition. She spent decades studying one African gray parrot, Alex, and observing his vocal behavior, including while she was a research associate at Harvard University.

“What Apollo is doing is fascinating,” Pepperberg said in an interview with The Washington Post. “It’s showing that Alex was not just some Einstein parrot, that other parrots are capable.” “I want people to understand and really appreciate the fact that these people are devoting their entire lives to this bird, and very few people in the world can do that,” Pepperberg continued. “It’s time and effort and energy that has to be put into this.”

Pepperberg used a training method for Alex called the model/rival technique, which involves two trainers. One gives the animal instructions while the other models correct and incorrect responses. The model trainer acts as the parrot’s rival student, vying for the other trainer’s attention. When Pepperberg began her research, “parrots were considered mindless mimics, because nobody figured out how to train them accordingly,” she said. “Nobody believed that this could work.”

Apollo enjoys a muffin. (Victoria Mason)

African gray parrots have the natural capacity to be strong students, Pepperberg said. Their vocal tract allows them to speak more clearly than other parrots, and “they have an extra bit of brain that seems to be used for learning,” she said. For Alex, “it wasn’t just a simple stimulus response or associative learning. He really understood what we were talking about,” Pepperberg said, noting that she tested Alex’s cognitive skills at the level of a 4-year-old human.

The Masons have used the same training strategy with Apollo.

Apollo caught the attention of Guinness World Records. He recently set the record for most items identified by a parrot in three minutes after naming 12 objects, including socks, a book and a bug.

Posted in Favorite Sites, Newsmakers, So Cute!, That's Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Potty Mouthed Parrot

Now here is something you don't hear about every day - A report from the Washington Post on a potty mouthed parrot:

A few days after the Niagara SPCA animal shelter took in a white-fronted Amazon parrot last month, staffers and volunteers got an earful. “Do you want me to kick your [expletive]?” the parrot named Pepper asked a volunteer at the Niagara Falls, N.Y., shelter. Pepper and six parakeets were surrendered by a woman who said she could no longer care for them.

White-fronted Amazon parrots can mimic 30 to 40 sounds, and Pepper’s former owner warned that the bird was likely to unload a bawdry blue streak when the mood hit him, said shelter director Amy Lewis. Right away, Lewis knew exactly how she’d rise to the challenge of finding a new family for Pepper.

“If you think Pepper’s feathers are colorful, you should hear his language,” Lewis wrote on Facebook on June 15, announcing the shelter had a “potty-mouthed parrot” up for adoption.

Pepper after his arrival at the Niagara SPCA in mid-June. (Niagara SPCA)

“Bringing home a cursing conure might seem like a fun idea until Pepper offends grandma’s Tuesday night knitting group,” she continued. The post went on: “On the bright side, if you want to keep unannounced company from dropping in, adopt Pepper. They’ll think twice after being cussed out by your new foul-mouthed feathered friend.”

Lewis then advised that only people with experience caring for birds should apply. “Give us a call if you want to add a spicey Pepper to your life!” she wrote. “Somebody get this guy a bar of soap or a humor-loving home!”

More than 400 applications poured in, Lewis said.

“We had adoption offers from all over the country,” she said, noting that applicants included a Texas saloon owner named Wild Bill and a former Navy sailor who said he had a vocabulary to rival Pepper’s. “It seemed like everyone wanted a cursing parrot,” Lewis said.

Both bird lovers and lovers of salty language flooded her Facebook post with comments.

“My grandma is about to be 81 years old and swears all the time,” wrote one person.

“Can we have a video of Pepper cussing?!? I can’t be the only one who wants to see this!!” wrote another.

“If I had a cage, pepper and I would be bff’s,” wrote a third, using shorthand for “best friends forever.”

Pepper enjoys hanging around outside his cage in Olean, N.Y. More than 400 people applied to adopt him. (Tiffany Turner)

Lewis and her staff spent three weeks studying the applications and narrowed them to 10 before deciding that Tiffany Turner, a special-education teacher from Olean, N.Y., was the best choice for Pepper.

Turner and her fiancé, Tim Sage, already had another cursing bird at home — an African grey parrot named Shelby. “They had a lot of knowledge about parrots, and their home is like a regular truck stop with another swearing bird,” Lewis said. “It seemed like a perfect fit.” She said she was also impressed that Turner acknowledged the challenges of caring for parrots in her application.

White-fronted Amazon parrots live an average of 40 years but with proper care can live into their 60s, 70s and beyond, she said.

“Pepper is in his mid-20s,” Lewis said. “Tiffany said [she and Tim] were in their 30s and would be able to age with Pepper. That told me they were prepared and had put some thought into applying.”

On Friday, shelter staffers drove Pepper two hours to his new home in Olean. Turner said she and the bird connected right away. “He’s really sweet, and he seems to love women,” she said. “I could tell he was definitely a ladies’ man.” She said she is slowly introducing Pepper to Shelby and has high hopes that they’ll soon be having lively conversations.

Shelby, Tiffany Turner's African grey parrot. (Tiffany Turner)

“Shelby is also foul, so we’re happy to have another swear bird,” Turner said.

So far, she’s heard only one curse word from Pepper, but she said she has a hunch there will be more.

“He’s a very vocal and loud bird,” she said. “He’s also very excitable. When my mother came up and visited, he fanned out his feathers and did a little dance with a butt wiggle.”

Turner said she learned about Pepper after her mother-in-law passed along the Niagara shelter’s adoption post.

“We’d wanted another parrot for years, but we didn’t want a young one because they live for so long,” she said. “When we heard about Pepper, we thought he’d be perfect.”

Tiffany Turner with Pepper at home in Olean, N.Y., a few days after she adopted him. (Tiffany Turner)

Once Pepper is accustomed to being outside his cage, he’ll be allowed to roam freely around the house for 6 to 12 hours a day like Shelby, Turner said.

“They get lots of fresh fruits and veggies every day, and we have a living room upstairs where they each have their own window to look out at our bird feeders and free-range chickens,” she said.

“Pepper is really intelligent, so he should soon be adding some new words to his diverse vocabulary,” Turner added. “It’s probably a good thing that we don’t have kids.”

Posted in Charitable, Newsmakers, So Cute!, That's Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cat City Film

A New Documentary by Ben Kolak
CAT CITY

Opens in Los Angeles on May 9, 2024!
Los Angeles Premiere – Thursday, May 9 at 7:30pm
at Laemmle's Glendale
Followed by Saturday & Sunday Matinee shows at Laemmle's Royal
Director Ben Kolak will be in attendance opening night at the Glendale and Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 pm at the Royal!

Cat City chronicles Chicago's love/hate relationship with feral cats. It tells the story of Chicago's outdoor cats and the communities who look after them. What is the right way to care for feral cats and who gets to decide? A ground-breaking 2007 ordinance protects feral cats in Chicago that have been trapped, neutered and returned ("TNR") to their neighborhoods. Dubbed community cats, they control rats and provide love and meaning to their caretakers. There are now thousands of cat colonies in Chicago, many with only a single cat, but some with more than 40. These colonies are fed by volunteer caretakers who report on their well-being. Many ferals succumb to the elements, but the most hardy, tough and careful survive many seasons and become legends in their neighborhoods.

Los Angeles Theatrical Premiere Screening – Thursday, May 9 at 7:30pm
at Laemmle's Glendale. Tickets >>

Director Ben Kolak in person!

Weekend Matinee Screenings – Saturday & Sunday, May 11-12
at Laemmle's Royal. Tickets >>
Director Ben Kolak in person at Saturday's 1pm Show

More Cities Coming Soon!

Posted in Newsmakers, Pawpourri, That's Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

2021 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been unearthing hilarious and heartwarming photos of creatures basically being their best selves since 2015.

And this year is no exception. The recently announced winners and finalists of the 2021 competition include a visibly uncomfortable monkey, a trio of gossipy raccoons, a joyful bird reunion, gravity-defying fish and an all-powerful prairie dog.

A panel of judges sorts through thousands of submissions from expert and novice photographers alike, and determines one winner for each of the several categories — except for the peoples' choice award, which is left up to members of the public. The overall winner gets a handmade trophy from a workshop in Tanzania and a weeklong Kenyan safari.

Read the full article on NPR

Posted in Charitable, Newsmakers, Pawpourri, So Cute!, That's Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

Superstitions and Other Bird Thoughts

This is by far one of the most popular posts on our sister blog, Madam Lichtenstein's Cosmic World. I thought that I would share it here for all of our blog's bird lovers. What do you think?

Today a bird flew into our door window and I felt a shudder of superstitious fear. I recalled that when a bird flies into a house or hits the door or window that it could portend something terrible. In hoping that I was wrong, I began to search superstition sites and I found a great one that I would like to share. Haunted Hamilton is a great site that offers a list of different superstitions and even some background as to where they came from.

So as for the bird, which was black, brown and white and recuperated after its hit and flew away, the superstitions are --

A bird that flies into a house foretells an important message. However, if the bird dies, or is white, this foretells death.
Signs of Impending Doom - Birds flying into a house or banging against the window.
Of course Snopes always likes to weigh in on this. And I did find an encouraging reading apropos of a bird flying into a window again on Keen:

Bird Flies at the Window, Death Knocks at the Door? Reposted by Request. I've heard this ominous saying for years, and it still sends chills over my body. My question, however, is what does it really mean when a bird flies at your window? Not just once, but again and again? My sister told me months ago about a little red bird that has been flying at her window every day, sometimes a dozen times. When he isn't hitting the window, he is perched on the arm of a patio chair, and it was at the point where she was really becoming concerned because she, too, had heard the ominous phrase.

I finally did a reading for her and was told that this bird was there to protect her, and he was also warning her of potential danger. Clearly, not a death, but just telling her to be aware of potential dangers around her. She took the warning to heart, took extra care to avoid accidents around the home, and she even went so far as to have a security system installed. Three days after having the system in place, she was awakened to the screeching sound of the security alarm, and found someone attempting to open her downstairs door. Fortunately the police were called out and the intruder was apprehended. Coincidence? I think not, and neither does she.

Her bird has since stopped flying into the window, but he still sits on the chair, her little guardian angel, watching over her. My point in all of this? Be aware that our Guardian Angels take many forms, and I believe that their attempts to get our attention will continue and become stronger until we get the message. So don't force the little bird to break your window. Be aware of the sights and sounds, the seen and the unseen around us, because the protection and the message is always there.

If you want to check out more bird superstitions, check out Flights of Fancy: Birds in Myth, Legend, and Superstition

Posted in Newsmakers, That's Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: bird superstitions

Dog Sleeping Patterns and Behaviors

According to Casper Mattress Company, dogs have distinct sleeping patterns and behaviors. Maybe a Dog Bed can make the difference?

Here is how they list out:

Dreaming: Yes, dogs can dream too! While it’s difficult to uncover exactly what dogs dream about, we know the brain processes their events of the day during sleep. So we can assume they’re dreaming of what happened during the day — like a walk around the block or chasing a squirrel.
Twitching: Just like humans, dogs may twitch in their sleep while they are dreaming or moving between sleep stages. This is a completely normal part of the sleep cycle.
Barking or squeaking: If your dog barks (or squeaks) during sleep, don’t panic. This is completely normal and may indicate that they’re reacting to something that’s happening in their dream.
Running: You may notice this when your dog is sleeping on their side and their paws start to move in unison. This is typically in response to a dream your dog may be having.
Snoring: Some dogs snore just as much as humans, however not every dog will snore. Snoring is most common in dogs with breathing issues and short noses — such as pugs, bulldogs, and boxers.
Circling and digging: Sometimes dogs will circle or dig before lying down to sleep. According to Peter Laskay, this behavior comes from the dog’s ancestors — wolves. Peter says that wolves did this to get “rid of excess leaves, earth, and snow by digging to make their sleep area more comfortable.”

If you notice your dog exhibiting any of the above sleep patterns, there is no need to worry! Every dog’s sleeping habits will be different and are perfectly normal.

Posted in Health, Newsmakers, Pawpourri, That's Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Casper mattress, dog sleeping

10 Dog Sleeping Positions and What They Mean

Casper mattresses has produced a fun and informative guide on dog sleeping positions and what they mean. Just like humans, dogs sleep in a variety of positions. From sleeping on their side to sleeping on their back with their paws in the air, we can learn a lot about our furry friends through their sleeping positions and habits. And here is an insight into dog beds.

Dog sleeping positions are like little clues that can give insight into how they are — both physically and mentally. To truly understand the meaning behind common dog sleeping positions, we tapped the minds of dog experts to reveal what 10 common dog sleeping positions mean. Read on to learn more about the adorable meaning behind these sleeping positions.

1. The Side Sleeper

Just like humans, dogs love to sleep on their side. Lying on their side with their legs extended is one of the most common sleeping positions for dogs. This sleeping position is especially prominent in puppies and older dogs who may be suffering from stiff joints.

Meaning: When your dog sleeps on their side, it means they feel relaxed and safe in their environment. According to Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM, who serves on the advisory board for Pup Life Today, “dogs will sleep in this position when they are feeling comfortable with their surroundings and are at a comfortable temperature.”

It’s also when they’re likely to get the most deep sleep. Jen Jones, a professional dog trainer, behavior specialist, and founder of Your Dog Advisor, says that “this position is also where you’ll often notice ‘sleep running’ and twitching during your dog’s dreams, as their paws are loose and free to move.”

2. The Lion’s Pose

The lion’s pose sleeping position (also called ‘the sphinx’) is when your dog sleeps with their head on top of their paws — similar to statues of lions you might see outside of large buildings. Your dog can also fall asleep in this position with their front paws tucked in and their back legs at one side.

Meaning: When dogs sleep in this position it means they are resting, but not sleeping deeply. According to Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ, and the vet expert at Pumpkin Pet Insurance, “dogs will often start out in this position if they feel like they will need to jump up quickly.”

3. The Superman

The superman position is when your dog lays sprawled out on the ground with their belly pressed to the floor, their back legs behind them, and their front legs stretched forward. This is a common position among puppies and very playful dogs.

Meaning: When your dog sleeps on their stomach in the superman position, it means that they’re tired but ready to play if the opportunity arises. Jen Jones says that “this position allows for dogs to snooze quickly, but be ready to hop up at a moment’s notice to play.” This is a common sleeping position for high energy dogs during the day.

4. The Donut

The donut position is when your dog sleeps curled up in a ball with all of their limbs tucked close to their body. Sometimes their nose will touch their hind legs and they may even drape their tail over their body.

Meaning: This position keeps all of the dog’s vital organs tucked and hidden. When a dog sleeps in this position, it means that they seek to protect themselves while sleeping or that they’re still getting used to their environment. This is especially common in stray or new dogs.

This is also a favorite position for dogs when they are cold. By curling up in a ball, they are attempting to preserve their body heat. Dr. Linda Simon, a Veterinarian and Veterinary Consultant for ThePets, says that this is a popular position “when the weather is cold and/or windy, as it would have protected dogs from the elements when they slept outside.”

5. The Cuddler

One of the most adorable dog sleeping positions is ‘the cuddler’ position. This is when your dog prefers to sleep on top of you or another dog cuddled up. This is a great position for those that love to let their dog sleep in bed with them.

Meaning: Peter Laskay, a pet expert and pet care blogger at Petworshiper, says that this position is a clear sign of bonding and “that the dog wants to get close to you or other dogs.”

6. The Burrower

Have you noticed that your dog seeks out pillows, clothes, or blankets to sleep under? If so, your pooch likes to sleep in the burrower position.

Meaning: When dogs sleep in the burrower position, they are searching for comfort and security. They often need lots of attention and affection to fall asleep.

7. The Belly Up

Arguably one of the cutest dog sleeping positions, the belly up position is just as it sounds. This position is when your dog lies on their back with their belly up and paws in the air. As uncomfortable as this position may look, this is a sign of true comfort and relaxation in dogs.

Meaning: Dogs who sleep on their back with their tummy and paws in the air do so for a few reasons. One of them is to keep cool. Jen Jones says, “dogs sweat through their paws and their belly is a source of heat. When they sleep on their back with their belly in the air and paws up, they are trying to keep cool.”

Because this is such a vulnerable position to be in, when dogs sleep on their back with their paws in the air, it also means that they are fully trusting you and their environment. Dr. Sarah Wooten says that “because they are exposing their belly and their vital organs to the world, you have to know that they feel really secure to fall asleep in this position.”

As dogs age, you’ll notice that they no longer sleep on their back as much. According to Steffi Trott, a professional dog trainer and the owner of SpiritDog Training, this is due to arthritis and you should not assume that your dog is no longer trusting you.

8. Back to Back

Similar to the cuddler sleeping position, when a dog likes to sleep back to back, it means they like to cuddle up and get as close as possible by placing their back next to either you or another dog. In the simplest form, this position is a sign of love and comfort.

Meaning: Sleeping back to back indicates a sense of intimacy. When a dog sleeps in this position, they are showing you affection and trust. According to Jen Jones, “dogs may choose to sleep this way with one person in the home they feel safest with.” This can include additional family members or other dogs and cats.

9. On a Cold Surface

Whether it’s lying face down on the kitchen floor or sprawled out on your pavement, dogs tend to sleep on a cold surface when they are hot. This type of position can take the form of the superman pose or could be similar to the lion’s pose. Whatever it is, your dog is likely making sure their tummy is touching the cold surface.

Meaning: This position is directly related to temperature. “Dogs may be hot if they sleep sprawled out on cool surfaces, particularly when they’re on their bellies with legs extended maximizing the amount of unhaired skin that touches the cold floor or ground,” says Dr. Jennifer Coates. If you notice your dog seeking out cold surfaces to sleep on, try your best to cool them down and give them some water.

10. Head and Neck Raised

Some dogs seek out a sleeping position where their head and neck are raised. They will usually leverage the side of their dog bed or a couch cushion.

Meaning: If your dog likes to sleep in a position where their head and neck are raised, it could mean that they may have issues breathing properly — something commonly seen with chronic heart disease and other health problems.

According to Dr. Linda Simon, if your dog sleeps in this position “keep an eye out for worrying symptoms such as faster breathing rate, noisy breathing, or a reduced ability to exercise.” If you notice any of these symptoms, make sure to contact your veterinarian.

Posted in Pawpourri, So Cute!, That's Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Casper mattress, dog beds, dog sleeping positions

Zoom Meeting With Mabel and Olive is Tail Wagging

The perfect zoom meeting!

Dog Gone Good. Scottish sportscaster Andrew Cotter brings back the quarantine laughs with his dogs Mabel and Olive, this time giving a Zoom meeting performance review of his two pups | via Twitter

Here is a link to a special offer from Amazon on pet supplies.

Posted in Favorite Sites, Newsmakers, Pawpourri, So Cute!, That's Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Andrew Cotter

Enjoy These Live Cams From Explore.org

From African elephant watering holes to American National parks, enjoy these wonderful live cams and get back to nature at a safe distance. Explore.org offers wonderful experiences.

Great Gray Owls at Jim’s Place

Mission Valley, Montana, USA

Gallery

Watch Now

Information

Nest with North America's largest species of owl! This live camera in Montana's Mission Valley is mounted opposite a hollowed tree snag where a great gray owl raises her chicks. It's believed the owl mom and her mate have nested here for the past three years.

This densely forested area borders a mostly open field, ideal for Great Gray Owls to hunt their prey. The forest has small creeks running through it and is a major wildlife corridor for the Mission Mountains with deer, birds, and even Grizzly bears traveling through this area.

This snag nest, though much smaller than the Western Montana Nest Cam, is not atypical for Great Grays. She fits like a glove.

We've named this location "Jim's Place" as tribute to the live cam host who unexpectedly passed away during the camera's install.

Live Viewing Hours
All Day and All Night

Established
April 2018

Mission Valley
Montana, USA

Weather

Partner

For more than 25 years, the Owl Research Institute (ORI) has been dedicated to scientific research of owls — their ecology, natural history, and habitat relationships.

Because owls are chronically under-researched and poorly understood, we strive to provide high-quality, long-term studies of owls, and use our findings to promote conservation.

The Owl Research Institute is a non-profit, 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization, and primarily funded by grants from foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Calendar

Blog

1/10

Q & A

Where is the owl's nest?
Great Gray Owls often lay their eggs in a broken tree top called a "snag." Other common locations for egg laying include man-made structures or the abandon nests of other large birds such as ravens or raptors.

Great Grays will almost always choose their nest site in an area adjacent to a clearing in a forest or another open area, such as a meadow or field.

How many eggs do Great Grays lay?
The clutch usually consists of 2 to 5 eggs. Each egg is about 2 inches in length and will be incubated anywhere from 28 to 36 days before hatching.

When and how do Great Grays hunt?
Like most owls, Great Grays are most active between dusk to dawn. Their excellent hearing is their most resourceful tool used in hunting. Great Grays have asymmetrical ear canals which allows them to triangulate the location of their prey. The owl will silently glide above the forest floor, listening for rodents such as mice and voles below, and then swoop down and snatch the rodent with their sharp talons.

Do Great Gray Owls migrate?
Great Grays do move around to different hunting areas throughout the year; however, their movement isn't viewed as migrational, but instead is viewed as "nomadic." They change locations due to their supply of food, not due to the seasons like most other birds. If a habitat is able to sustain them with a constant food supply, then Great Grays will stay in that area. If their hunting has depleted the supply of rodents, then the owl will move on to find a new hunting area.

Are Great Gray Owls endangered?
In some areas, mainly near human populations, Great Grays are endangered. Loss of habitat due to logging is one of the greatest threats the species. When forested areas are clear cut, the availability of snags for nesting is greatly diminished.

Comments

Menu

Posted in Charitable, Favorite Sites, Health, Newsmakers, Pawpourri, That's Entertainment, Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Explore.org, live cams