Give a hoot

Did you hear that? Hoot Hoot Hoot? Perhaps it was a celebratory call, two Great Horned Owls recently became new parents on Hilton Head Island. Their tiny chicks, called owlets, hatched a day apart in a nest high atop a live oak tree. Blind and covered in a light coat of downy feathers, they are helpless without the adults’ care. But over the next 6 to 8 weeks their dutiful parents will protect and feed them.

The owl pair joins forces to run a 24-7 fast food delivery service of small animals like mice, sometimes accompanied with side serving of insects. As the owlets grow, their large eyes start to open, and their coat becomes fully fluffy, resembling tiny Muppets. But don’t let their cuteness fool you, they are well on their way to becoming the majestic predators they were born to be.
Owls are masterful, deadly hunters that hunt primarily at night. Their asymmetrical ears locate prey with pinpoint accuracy, and their fringed feathers allow them to attack unwitting victims without making a sound. An owl can turn its head 270 degrees in both directions, giving it an incredible sight superpower. But, while they may be among the top of the food chain in the wild, their biggest threat to survival is humans.

Poisons and rodenticides, used in residential and commercial areas to keep our gardens weed-free or to kill moles and mice, can be highly toxic to owls and other wildlife. The Center for Birds of Prey in South Carolina estimates that pesticides harm between 50 and 60 Great Horned Owls every year in the Carolinas and Georgia. That’s not only bad news for the owls, but it’s also bad news for us. Without owls, our rodent population could increase causing us to use more pesticides, that could in turn kill more owls perpetuating a vicious cycle.

Raising awareness of human impacts on wildlife is part of Hilton Head Audubon’s role in the Lowcounty. What better way to connect us further to nature than seeing it up close - really close.

On Sunday, April 6th, 2025 join the Hilton Head Audubon in welcoming Master Class Falconer Glen Kansanback and his flock of owls at the Rotary Club of Bluffton for a unique owl experience. Arrive at 2:00 p.m. to see the owls – and a chance to hold one on your arm – or come at 4:00 p.m. for the talk and demonstration by Glen, followed by a reception.

For Kansanback, giving the public an up-close experience with the seldom-seen owl is part of his mission to entertain and educate. “A lot of people have heard owl’s hooting, but rarely ever see them,” said Kansanback. “This is what it is all about, seeing that awe-struck wonder upon their faces! I want them to have that WOW factor. It just never gets old.”
To buy tickets visit www.hiltonheadaudubon.org.

Denise Prichard is a board member of Hilton Head Audubon, outdoor enthusiast, and conservation storytelling trainer.