Millie, The Great Horned Owl

Millie lived freely in a large nature preserve in an urban area. While humans’ trails meandered sparsely throughout her habitat, she stealthily soared above them, from dusk till dawn, in hunt of her prey, zooming in with laser precision upon unsuspecting mice, frogs, snakes, rabbits, and other creatures.  Her particular “hoo-hoo-hoo” song traveled long distances as the low frequency of her vocalization was not muted by vegetation. She might briefly capture the attention of a lone human out for an evening stroll as she swooped overhead, they not sure if they’d heard something, but knowing they’d certainly “felt” something.

Millie was proud and beautiful, displayed by an abundance of mottled gray-brown, feathers and a sienna-brown face decorated with flecks of yellow ochre and glowing golden eyes with pupils the size of saucers. A neat white patch on her throat sometimes reflected a silver, bluish hue if the sun’s rays bent at just the right angle.   Her large, thick-body and two prominent feathered tufts on her head indicated she was a Great Horned Owl.  In-flight,  her broad wings, rounded head, and short bill combined to create a blunt-headed silhouette similar in design to a stealth aircraft.

A talented hunter, Millie would find an optimal space to roost, to observe her prey, and prepare her attacks, sometimes joining other owls for this ritual. Like most owls, Millie wasn’t adept at building a nest. Instead, she would choose the vacant nest of another bird or nest in holes or hollows of trees. She was a hoarder, and if the food was abundant, she made a point of stocking up!

At dusk, Millie would proudly display her beauty on tree limbs at the edges of open areas or fly across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of her rounded wings calling out in an in-depth, staccato series of four to five hoots. You’d find Millie each evening soaring in and around young woods interspersed with fields or other open areas. 

It had been an abundant early spring, and by the end of summer, Millie had foraged a large amount of food. However, unbeknownst to her, something in her stash had been contaminated with a toxic substance. After ingesting it, she began to feel poorly, yet she set out on her nocturnal flight. She grew tired and thought if she rested a spell on a pile of wood, she’d soon be able to resume her nighttime routine. Unfortunately, she did not have the strength to propel herself back into the air.

The next day, a young man was out for a solitary walk on one of the human trails and noticed a bristling of vegetation and a sensation of a creature struggling. Upon further investigation, he found Millie, still conscious, her deep, exotic eyes blinking with weakness and confusion. He called a rescue center to come to Millie’s aide. She was in good hands and received the best medical care, but sadly, she passed away after a few days.

The young man who found Millie in the woods that day was my son, Brett. We were all rooting for Millie, and so were her fans on social media. Millie’s regal spirit touched the hearts of many as she fought for her life. Although this story has a sad ending, it reminds us of the greatness of these noble majestic birds and the duty we have in their preservation by sustaining a clean and healthy habitat.

Thank you, Millie, for the short time you touched our lives with your elegance, grit, and stoic grace.

The painting, “Millie, The Great Horned Owl,” is dedicated to you.

***I have no formal art training. This painting was created with the help of a tutorial by Angela Anderson.