Brews for Birds

Borderlands’ Great Horned Owl IPA

Great Horned Owl family- Photo by Matthew Studebaker

The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)is Arizona’s largest owl and is found in a wide array of habitats including deserts, grasslands, woodlands and even suburban areas. Although substantial in length (about 50 cm) and wingspan (about 125 cm), they are relatively light, weighing in at only 1600 grams—about the same as a can of Crisco.

Known as the “Tiger of the Sky” for their hunting prowess, Great Horned Owls enjoy a varied diet that includes rats, rabbits, other birds and even skunks. They fly silently thanks to a specialized flight feathers and have excellent eye-sight, even in low light conditions. Great Horned Owls can close their talons (feet) with 500 psi, compared to the average human squeezing strength of about 90 psi. Although they are strong enough to do so, Great Horned Owls rarely kill people’s pets, despite rumors to the contrary. They are much more likely to provide pest control services by taking mice, rats, and pigeons. They are excellent parents, typically raising 2-3 owlets per season. In central AZ, Great Horned Owls typically nest in January and February, so it is common to hear pairs hooting to each other on chilly winter nights.

Borderlands’ Great Horned Owl IPA celebrates the strength of this magnificent raptor and invites your participation in the Arizona Field Ornithologists, thereby supporting important research and conservation work benefitting all of Arizona’s birds.

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