Q: I would really like to see a screech owl, but I never have. What’s the best way to locate one of these owls? A: These small owls are described as “common” but are notoriously challenging to spot ...

Q. Why are they called screech owls when the only sound I’ve ever heard them make are warbling noises that remind me of musical Morse code? A. I was able to answer this question a few years ago during ...

The sound was unmistakable and led me outdoors to face the thick woods across the road. In the advancing twilight the sound pierced the darkness again, and then again. The ghostly mournful wail, best ...

On the chilly morning of Dec. 5, Alex Patton headed into a coffee shop in Utica. On his way out, he glanced across the nearby stream and noticed the bird in the accompanying photo. Sharp-eyed Patton ...

It was a magical time in my backyard for two weeks this past summer. One August morning I walked out the back door just at dawn to meet a friend for a “beat the heat” walk, when suddenly two birds ...

How are owls different from other birds? They evolved to hunt at night and because of this they have large areas of their brain just for sight and for hearing. Owls’ eyes face forward unlike most ...

Owls are more often heard than seen. In New York, there are eight species of these interesting raptors, with the majority most active at night. Some live here year-round, some are migratory. They ...

Hoot, hoot, hoot. Those might be some of the sounds you’ll hear on an upcoming Owl Prowl on Long Island. The owl prowls are an opportunity to learn about the nighttime creatures that live among us on ...

I think naps are wasted on the young. Not that children don't need them — they definitely do — but with age, sleep becomes more precious. A good night's sleep, taken for granted when I was younger, is ...

Q. Why are they called screech owls when the only sound I’ve ever heard them make are warbling noises that remind me of musical Morse code? A. I was able to answer this question a few years ago during ...