I have a feeling this should be a good one! We’ve got some top tier owls, but only one can advance. This is likely to be another tough decision.

The petite Saw Whet is found from Canada to Mexico. Though only about 8 inches / 20 cm, and 2.8 oz / 80 g, this owl is no less vicious than its larger relatives, perhaps even more so, as it is also subject to predation itself. Like many owls, its name comes from its primary vocalization, a toot that is said to have the sound of a hand saw being sharpened on a whetstone. Saw Whet is not a bug eater like its size may imply: it eats almost entirely mammals from moles up to squirrels and bats, and will sometimes take a bird if need be, or some crabs and other seafood along the coast.

The competition is the owl that’s been so successful at dealing with environmental destruction with its great adaptability and sheer determination that its become somewhat of an outlaw. The Barred Owl is being treated as an invasive species, but I say it’s just making the best of the bad situation many owls like the Saw Whet are suffering from: deforestation. While other owls can’t find food, shelter, or territory, Barred Owl laughs. It eats anything, lives anywhere, and is a tough son of a gun who isn’t even afraid to fight humans during nesting season. Once only in the Eastern US , it has crushed southern Canada and is coming down the West Coast. While it can be a tough customer, it can also look very gentle and cuddly when it wants to, and it wears a somber expression, possibly from just being tired of being misunderstood.

So do you pick the pocket sized puff ball with surprised eyes and a bit of a moody side, or the bold, loud, and proud Barred Owl who has a tough exterior hiding a heart of gold? I know some of you have been having some very good Barred Owl sightings lately and getting lots of upvotes yourselves, so this will make it tough for baby if you. Mage your choice and vote now!

#superbowl #owloftheyear2024

    • LordAmplifier@pawb.socialEnglish
      7·
      14 days ago

      The blurred background, the high saturation, and those huge eyes give the second photo AI vibes. It was uploaded to Flickr in 2009, long before modern image generation was a thing. It’s a beautiful photo, and it makes me very sad that this AI hype immediately made me suspicious like that.

      • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
        5·
        14 days ago

        I feel the same way having to question a lot of things. I was going to share some of the creepy new AI videos of fake owls, but some people complained to the mods last time, so I don’t feel like dealing with that.

        I always try to bring you factual and accurate things, and it gets hard at times to tell AI aggregated text apart from actual research or a heavy edited photo vs a generated one. I’m sure I pass on some awesome photos since I try to stay on the overly cautious side.

        I’m not an expert on any of this stuff, so I try to maintain what level of credibility I do have and I don’t want to feel I let you guys down.

    • onigiri@lemm.ee
      5·
      14 days ago

      I am Team Saw Whet to win the whole thing, but I will be sad to see Barred Owl go. They have really grown on me this past year.

      • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
        7·
        14 days ago

        I’d have no complaints about SWO taking the whole thing. Absolutely worthy.

        Barred is my new buddy. Since the whole thing about the order to shoot so many of them, I’ve really reevaluated many of my opinions on the Barred/Spotted Owl debates, and I’ve gotten to spend some real life time seeing them, and the ancient, blind, one winged one at the park pass away last winter that I’ve really bonded with the Barred Owl. I love that sad face and them stealing people’s hats and causing general mischief with the public.

        Perhaps he’s a little to plain or too much a controversial bad boy to be Owl of the Year, but they’ve gotten an extra warm space in my own heart this past year.

  • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
    12·
    15 days ago

    I thought Mottled would have fared a bit better, but Buffy never broke a sweat.

    Maybe next year we’ll try grass owls to see if they can top the wood owls’ performance.

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
      4·
      14 days ago

      I overestimated how hard this decision would be for most of you! 😅

      It’s still a bit early for me to feel out if there’s been a change in what you guys like since last year, but some things like living that tiny Saw Whet probably will stay the same forever. It’s just so cute and feisty!

  • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
    5·
    14 days ago

    Kinda surprised to see SWO taking such a lead so early.

    I believe I had a Barred Owl sighting on my commute this morning. I saw a large bird up on a telephone pole outside the one park. Only saw it for a second, but it was the right time of day and it did not look very hawk-like.

    I’d like to think I know a Barred Owl silhouette by this point, but who knows! I thought it might be a good omen for Barred today, but maybe not! 😅

    Still lots of time left though…

  • j4k3@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    14 days ago

    Whet neoteny is breaking the lemernet, but the ole Barred is one of us.