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Owls and hawks are getting more used to being around people and don't recognize them as threats because for the most part they're not, especially in an urban environment. They just swoop over to try to run people away from the nest or to try to intimidate. My favorite is when great horned owls carry off those annoying little white excuses for dogs. |
When I was stationed at Ft Carson, our BMO had his cover and a good chunk of his scalp removed from his head by a great big momma owl who was nesting in the corner of our vehicle shade. We figured his WO2 insignia was just twinkly enough to be interesting. His BDU cover formed part of her nest for the next few months and we were forbidden to approach. So of course we did.  Impressive bird. Dug trenches in his skull with her tallons.
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| When my Dad was just a kid he was hunting groundhogs. He got too close to a nest, and was attacked by a Great Horned Owl. It took a big chunk of flesh out of his chest. He killed the owl when it dove at him a second tome. The authorities at the time let him keep the owl. The 70 year old mounted owl sits on top of my roll top desk today. |
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Quoted: Owls can be considered raptors generally, because they hunt for food i.e., are birds of prey, but are loosely grouped into the term raptor. Buteos are hawks and true buzzards. Raptors also includes eagles, falcons and ospreys. Quoted: Raptors from the sky! I thought an owl was not considered a raptor or a buteo? |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Owls can be considered raptors generally, because they hunt for food i.e., are birds of prey, but are loosely grouped into the term raptor. Buteos are hawks and true buzzards. Raptors also includes eagles, falcons and ospreys.
Quoted:
Raptors from the sky! I thought an owl was not considered a raptor or a buteo? And, debatably vultures. A scientist examined bone structures and placed them in a family more closely related to storks than hawks, but habits(and federal protection laws) die hard. As common as they are, turkey vultures are probably going to be covered under raptor protection laws as well. I did get a kick out of the photo credit in the linked article. That's a barn owl, not a barred owl. I never did understand the "don't fuck with me" look that even small owls have on their faces, even more so than eagles(which, of course, are much bigger). Fledgling screech owl from late this spring  " target="_blank">
Fledgling bald eagle, taken about the same time of year  " target="_blank">
ETA-as for reasoning behind the attacks, were the runners wearing anything on their heads? I've heard of hunters being attacked when wearing fur hats. The owls think the hat is a prey item. |