One of my kids’ favorite jokes is an owl knock-knock joke.
“Knock-knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Who?”
“Who who?”
“Are you an owl?”
(I know it’s corny, but aren’t most knock-knock jokes?)
Silly owl jokes aside, owls are really magnificent creatures. They definitely have it going on in the looks department, with those fuzzy heads, huge eyes and little beaks set in heart-shaped faces. They also have it going on in the “fun facts” department. Did you know they have three eyelids—one for blinking, one for sleeping, one for protecting their eyes? Did you know there are 200 different species? (In Minnesota you’re most likely to see the great horned owl or the barred owl.) They can swivel their heads 135 degrees in either direction. They often sleep during the day and hunt at night. They have two different sized ears to pinpoint the exact location of prey, they have special feet for grasping, and they have special feathers for silent flying—making them remarkably good hunters, even better than hawks (watch out mice! Owls aren’t nicknamed the “feathered mousetraps” for nothin’.)
For centuries, owls have been both feared and admired. And now this weekend, March 7-9, you can celebrate all things owl at the International Festival of Owls in Houston, Minnesota.
There are owl programs, owl activities, owl lectures, a hooting contest, an indoor owl photography opportunity, a medallion hunt, a birding bus trip, owl videos, and owl awards. You’ll also have a chance to buy all of the owl-related merchandise your heart desires. For a full lineup of events, visit festivalofowls.com.
We’re sure it’ll be a real hoot.
