It was a very quiet canyon, no other people or animals nearby. I think I woke it up - I just happened to catch the motion of its head as I walked. I feel bad for disturbing it :(
This was on a Calico Basin trail in Red Rock Canyon outside Las Vegas.
(I really need to re-find the study I skimmed the other week, this is the second time it’s come up since!)
I was reading recently that owl sleep is generally not in big blocks like we typically sleep. They will usually sleep in short bursts so they can be aware of their surroundings, which is why they “sleep” so much of the day. It sounded more like a series of power naps, but I’d really like to find the paper I was reading to get better details.
So while you probably did annoy it, pretty much everything annoys owls, so don’t take it too hard. 😄
That would be a Great Horned Owl.
Looks like it found itself a lovely home there.
Thanks, I changed the title.
There’s so much wildlife that you don’t see in a desert.
How did you happen to notice it? Just luck, other birds getting worked up about it?
I always like seeing owls nesting in or on the big saguaros.
It was a very quiet canyon, no other people or animals nearby. I think I woke it up - I just happened to catch the motion of its head as I walked. I feel bad for disturbing it :(
This was on a Calico Basin trail in Red Rock Canyon outside Las Vegas.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WGYofJupUKRRMubQA
(I really need to re-find the study I skimmed the other week, this is the second time it’s come up since!)
I was reading recently that owl sleep is generally not in big blocks like we typically sleep. They will usually sleep in short bursts so they can be aware of their surroundings, which is why they “sleep” so much of the day. It sounded more like a series of power naps, but I’d really like to find the paper I was reading to get better details.
So while you probably did annoy it, pretty much everything annoys owls, so don’t take it too hard. 😄