Great Horned Owl
Birds of the Canadian Badlands
Great Horned Owls range in length from 18-25 inches (46–68
cm) and have a wingspan of 40-60.5 in (101–153 cm); Females
are larger than males, an average adult being 22 in (55 cm) long
with a 49 in (124 cm) wingspan. Their call is a low-pitched but
loud ho-ho-hoo hoo hoo; sometimes it is only four syllables instead
of five. The female's call is higher and rises in pitch at the end
of the call. Owls have spectacular binocular vision allowing them
to pinpoint prey and see in low light. The eyes of Great Horned
Owls are nearly as large as those of humans and are immobile within
their circular bone sockets. Instead of turning their eyes, they
turn their heads. Therefore, their neck must be able to turn a full
270 degrees in order to see in other directions without moving its
entire body. These birds hunt at night by waiting on a high perch
and swooping down on prey. Prey can vary greatly based on
opportunity. The predominant prey group are small to medium-sized
mammals such as hares, rabbits, squirrels, mice, moles, voles,
shrews, weasels and gerbils. The Great Horned Owl is the provincial
bird of Alberta.
This cache is part of the Legacy Trail produced by the Canadian
Badlands Geocaching association for the Best of the Bad Mega
Event.
The Legacy Trail
The Legacy Trail is a collection of geocaches that circles its
way over 100 miles on country roads traversing some of the most
scenic and spectacular landscape in this part of the Canadian
Badlands. A large number of caches in a variety of types, sizes and
difficulty are placed on the Trail. Every town, village and hamlet
in the Canadian Badlands has its own cache. Some caches were named
after local historic events and people, as well as celebrities who
grew up in this area. Some caches were sponsored by geocachers who
attended the Best of the Bad Mega Event. The Legacy Trail was
produced by the Canadian Badlands Geocaching Association for the
Best of the Bad Mega Event.
The Canadian Badlands
The Canadian Badlands in Alberta are home to the world's most
extensive dinosaur bone beds, badlands and hoodoos, and a
world-class museum that shelters a 75 million-year-old legacy. The
region is rich in culturally and historically significant sites
that tell the story of the First Nations people and early settlers,
and a complex and diverse modern society that is still deeply
rooted in the spirit of the frontier.
