Fascinating Owls

People everywhere are fascinated by owls. Some believe that owls are wise and bring good luck. Others believe that owls are spirits of evil.

Old Hawaiian legends told that owls were smart protectors. In Greenland, natives believed that owls were helpful guides. Indonesians listened to their hoots to decide if travel was safe. Australian Aborigines believed that owls were sacred. In Brittany, it was a good sign to see an owl at harvest. Ancient Afghans believed that the owl helped man make fire.

So why are humans spooked by owls? Night animals, owls roost and hunt in lonely, dark places. Their sharp talons and hooked beaks make them deadly killers. Owls fly silently and attack their prey without warning. Their pale undersides make them look like white ghosts against the black sky. Owls' big eyes stare, and their heads turn almost all the way around. No wonder owls seem spooky!









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