I did not know that the

[iba1990]

Hey everyone ! I did not know that the wingspan of an OWL was so dang huge. A few weeks ago I was on my way to work at 3:50 AM & riding thru a desolate very dark part of my area when I just barely saw something out of the corner of my right eye then suddenly it was right on me. Well, pretty close to me. It was a HUGE bird. Scared the heck out of me. I figured it must be an Owl because I don't think any other birds go airborne in the dark. I am not kidding when I say it was huge. It all happened pretty fast so I did not have time to really check it out. It was really close to me too. Totally glad I did not hit it or I probably would not be writing this now. I have been close to deer, elk, coyotes, rabbits, prairie dogs, skunks, racoons & other animals but this was the worst. I reckon you all know about those things. When you're scanning the roads you never expect to be assaulted by air. Be aware if you're riding at night out in the country. Have a nice week-end all. tommy t IBA 1990

[Sludge]

Yea they get huge.  This spring after I finished baling hay I was out at dusk looking across the days work.  A large one was sitting on a tree limb a couple hundred yards away and it took flight straight toward me.  It passed over me so close I could hear the wind off of its wings.  About a 6 foot wing span on that one is my guess. 

You see a lot of predatory and scavenger birds around when you cut or bale hay.  The Hawks and Owls come to feed on the newly uncovered acres of grass for the easy to spot rodents.  The buzzards, and crows come for the fresh kill from the mowing machine where you happened to kill a snake, rabbit or other critter.

[RP#62]

Jeff K had an owl encounter that let him with a souvenir.  Maybe he'll post it.
-RP

[iba1990]

Hope it was not too bad. Would like to hear it tho. Years ago when I was skydiving I heard of someone who hit a circling hawk & as I remember it killed him. Not good. There are lots of obsticles out there don't ya know? tommy t

[iba1990]

I know what ya mean about mowing & bailing hay. Been there done that. tommy t

[Valkahuna]

I have friends with a small Horse ranch out in the Phoenix, AZ area. Not far from her place is a large abandoned horse barn that houses a pair of Great Horned Owls (I'm not an Ornothologist, but that's what she says they are, and what they look like when roosting in an old tree in the distance).

Anyways, these two are HUGE!  She started having trouble with Roosters, chickens, and even neighbors pet rabbits and cats disappearing. 

One night she was out with one of her dogs, and saw one of the Owls swoop into the fenced-in pen that the chickens and roosters are in. It is all Chain-Link fence, with a roof, but there is a gap at the top over the gate, and the owl got in through that, made short work of the rooster, and took off with it in it's talons. All that was left of her prize rooster was a bunch of feathers. I guess it really wasn't a fair fight, since it was over in about 15 seconds.
As for size, my Audubon book says that a Great Horned Owl is 25" tall, with a wingspan of up to 55". Actually, the Great Gray Owl is up to 33" inches tall, with a wingspan of 60". Wow! 

[iba1990]

Pretty scarey when they fly right in front of you when you're not expecting it. There are a ton of prairie dogs & rabbits where I live...they really need thinning out too. I guess we need more Owls. The barns up here are disappearing fast to with all the urban spread that's going on here in Colorado. Tourists come here & like it then go back home then sell their stuff then move here. Good state to live in. We have huge house farms now with no barns. Happening all over the whole country too. It is also amazing how fast the fly when swooping down on their prey.  tommy t

[Jeff K]

Jeff K had an owl encounter that let him with a souvenir.  Maybe he'll post it.
-RP

I was cruising at about 70 mph just after dark and saw something swoop down in front of me. WACK! It got wedged in between the mirror and the switch box. I wasn't far form home so I rode into the garage to check it out. It was a small owl, he hit the bars and his body stopped, but his head kept right on going, My left arm was covered in feathers and blood.

[iba1990]

DANG!!!!!!!

[Big Rig]

OWL-CH!!!
 

[John Schmidt]

We had an owl in our neighborhood that had some health problems. Darn thing was constipated and apparently had a sore throat as well......(do you really want to know where this is going?)


OK....it couldn't sh!* worth a hoot or hoot worth a.......aw fergit it.