owl attack

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Rich MacDonald

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Sep 16, 2020, 8:33:19 AM9/16/20
to Maine-birds

I had a text from a Bar Harbor resident about being attacked by an owl yesterday. Their text paraphrased:

 

“I was walking with a hoodie on. From behind, an owl hit my head and knocked me down! Then attacked again getting some cuts on my head.”

 

I think of this behavior as territorial during breeding season, not so much during the fall. Anyone have some thoughts on this?

 

 

Richard MacDonald

The Natural History Center

P.O. Box 6

Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

Ri...@TheNaturalHistoryCenter.com

www.facebook.com/TheNaturalHistoryCenter

William Reid

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Sep 16, 2020, 4:50:11 PM9/16/20
to Rich MacDonald, Maine-birds
Back in the late 1950s I was bird hunting in the fall on the outskirts of Brunswick when I happened to glance up just in time to see an owl (unidentified) with talons out swooping down at my head. I ducked and it just knocked my hat off. A case of a mistaken prey item (my hat)?  Whatever the reason, it remains vivid in my memory over 60 years later.

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Boots.

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Sep 16, 2020, 6:09:40 PM9/16/20
to Rich MacDonald, Maine-birds
Several years ago, I was out during a meteor shower. I was sitting on a chaise and wearing a heavy blaze orange parka with a hood. I swiveled my head to track a meteor just in time to see a barred owl swoop, and as I ducked, it just barely tagged me on the head, or should I say, parka hood.

Owls are virtually color blind. I agree with WIlliam, a case of mistaken prey item. I also know someone from many years ago, a former naturalist at the Massachusetts Audubon Society who had the same thing happen. Only he was left with a rake across his head and lost his fuzzy wool watch cap!

Happy birding!
~Boots.


On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 8:33 AM Rich MacDonald <ri...@thenaturalhistorycenter.com> wrote:
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Lynn Havsall

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Sep 16, 2020, 7:17:58 PM9/16/20
to Boots., Rich MacDonald, Maine-birds
I think these attacks are aggressive encounters. Owls have great vision, even by starlight alone. I don't think they mistake human hats as prey.

Back in Wisconsin, I was continually attacked (over a 2 year period) by resident E. Screech Owls. They didn't use their talons, but balled up feet.

I admit I enjoyed their belligerent greetings & I wore safety glasses to be safe.

Resident i.e., non migrant owls maintain territories outside the breeding season.

Just my two cents.
Lynn (owlier than most)


On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, Boots. <boo...@gmail.com> wrote:
Several years ago, I was out during a meteor shower. I was sitting on a chaise and wearing a heavy blaze orange parka with a hood. I swiveled my head to track a meteor just in time to see a barred owl swoop, and as I ducked, it just barely tagged me on the head, or should I say, parka hood.

Owls are virtually color blind. I agree with WIlliam, a case of mistaken prey item. I also know someone from many years ago, a former naturalist at the Massachusetts Audubon Society who had the same thing happen. Only he was left with a rake across his head and lost his fuzzy wool watch cap!

Happy birding!
~Boots.


On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 8:33 AM Rich MacDonald <rich@thenaturalhistorycenter.com> wrote:

I had a text from a Bar Harbor resident about being attacked by an owl yesterday. Their text paraphrased:

 

“I was walking with a hoodie on. From behind, an owl hit my head and knocked me down! Then attacked again getting some cuts on my head.”

 

I think of this behavior as territorial during breeding season, not so much during the fall. Anyone have some thoughts on this?

 

 

Richard MacDonald

The Natural History Center

P.O. Box 6

Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

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Boots.

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Sep 16, 2020, 11:52:39 PM9/16/20
to Lynn Havsall, Maine-birds, Rich MacDonald
I bow to Lynn’s greater experience and wisdom. She’s never steered me wrong. 

On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 7:17 PM Lynn Havsall <lhav...@gmail.com> wrote:
I think these attacks are aggressive encounters. Owls have great vision, even by starlight alone. I don't think they mistake human hats as prey.

Back in Wisconsin, I was continually attacked (over a 2 year period) by resident E. Screech Owls. They didn't use their talons, but balled up feet.

I admit I enjoyed their belligerent greetings & I wore safety glasses to be safe.

Resident i.e., non migrant owls maintain territories outside the breeding season.

Just my two cents.
Lynn (owlier than most)


On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, Boots. <boo...@gmail.com> wrote:
Several years ago, I was out during a meteor shower. I was sitting on a chaise and wearing a heavy blaze orange parka with a hood. I swiveled my head to track a meteor just in time to see a barred owl swoop, and as I ducked, it just barely tagged me on the head, or should I say, parka hood.

Owls are virtually color blind. I agree with WIlliam, a case of mistaken prey item. I also know someone from many years ago, a former naturalist at the Massachusetts Audubon Society who had the same thing happen. Only he was left with a rake across his head and lost his fuzzy wool watch cap!

Happy birding!
~Boots.


On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 8:33 AM Rich MacDonald <ri...@thenaturalhistorycenter.com> wrote:

I had a text from a Bar Harbor resident about being attacked by an owl yesterday. Their text paraphrased:

 

“I was walking with a hoodie on. From behind, an owl hit my head and knocked me down! Then attacked again getting some cuts on my head.”

 

I think of this behavior as territorial during breeding season, not so much during the fall. Anyone have some thoughts on this?

 

 

Richard MacDonald

The Natural History Center

P.O. Box 6

Bar Harbor, Maine 04609









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Lynn Havsall

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Sep 17, 2020, 3:15:37 PM9/17/20
to Boots., Maine-birds, Rich MacDonald
Oh, what do I know, I've been hit on the head so many times.


On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, Boots. <boo...@gmail.com> wrote:
I bow to Lynn’s greater experience and wisdom. She’s never steered me wrong. 
On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 7:17 PM Lynn Havsall <lhav...@gmail.com> wrote:
I think these attacks are aggressive encounters. Owls have great vision, even by starlight alone. I don't think they mistake human hats as prey.

Back in Wisconsin, I was continually attacked (over a 2 year period) by resident E. Screech Owls. They didn't use their talons, but balled up feet.

I admit I enjoyed their belligerent greetings & I wore safety glasses to be safe.

Resident i.e., non migrant owls maintain territories outside the breeding season.

Just my two cents.
Lynn (owlier than most)


On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, Boots. <boo...@gmail.com> wrote:
Several years ago, I was out during a meteor shower. I was sitting on a chaise and wearing a heavy blaze orange parka with a hood. I swiveled my head to track a meteor just in time to see a barred owl swoop, and as I ducked, it just barely tagged me on the head, or should I say, parka hood.

Owls are virtually color blind. I agree with WIlliam, a case of mistaken prey item. I also know someone from many years ago, a former naturalist at the Massachusetts Audubon Society who had the same thing happen. Only he was left with a rake across his head and lost his fuzzy wool watch cap!

Happy birding!
~Boots.


On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 8:33 AM Rich MacDonald <rich@thenaturalhistorycenter.com> wrote:

I had a text from a Bar Harbor resident about being attacked by an owl yesterday. Their text paraphrased:

 

“I was walking with a hoodie on. From behind, an owl hit my head and knocked me down! Then attacked again getting some cuts on my head.”

 

I think of this behavior as territorial during breeding season, not so much during the fall. Anyone have some thoughts on this?

 

 

Richard MacDonald

The Natural History Center

P.O. Box 6

Bar Harbor, Maine 04609









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