With inspiration from Nathan Fairchild-Savage

If there’s one bird that’s absolutely steeped in magic, mythology, and mysticism, it has to be the owl. In so many cultures, owls appear as totems of wisdom, omens of death, or as symbols of the supernatural. The little owl (Athene Noctua) is the symbol of the Greek Goddess Athena, and was a protector of the people. Yet in Roman times, the call of an owl could be an omen of great doom. Nailing the poor bird to a door supposedly removed the curse of its call.

A similar custom occurred in the UK, apparently up until the 1800s. Nailing a barn owl to a barn door was a way to ward off evil. Around this time, people also believed that a barn owl flying past a sick person’s window meant they were close to death.

Yet a barn owl heard during a storm meant the bad weather was nearly over. A sensible superstition, as birds are more likely to fly and be active when the weather is improving. Barn owls’ feathers can get waterlogged, so they are unlikely to hunt in a storm.

These fascinating birds have so many attributes that make them more than worthy of the mythology that’s built up around them.

Incredible Hunters

Owls are carnivores and hunt small prey like voles and mice. These birds have incredible eyesight and can spot the movement of their prey from a long way away.

Some hunt while in flight, like the barn owl. They will fly over areas like fields, carefully assessing one part of the field before moving on to the next. Others, like the tawny owl, hunt from a perch, patiently waiting before plunging onto their prey. Owls are perseverant, patient, and determined.

Silent Flight

Owls are often hard to spot, not just because you tend to see them at night, but also because they fly almost silently. One could fly right past you and, if you are looking in a different direction, you’re unlikely to notice. This is also the key to their effective hunting. A huge tawny owl dropping from a tree should make a ruckus, but their silent wings mean that the kill is over and done with barely a sound.

The structure of the feathers in an owl’s wings has a lot to do with the silent flight. Research suggests that there may be two factors at work. One of these is something called dorsal velvet, long filaments on the feathers that may muffle the sound of feathers rubbing together in flight. Some scientists theorise that this velvet also has aerodynamic properties that reduce in-flight noise.

Another factor may be the inner vane fringes of the wing feathers. A 2012 study suggested that the very edges of the feathers merge into grooves created by neighbouring feather shafts, for completely smooth movement, eliminating the scratching sounds normally associated with feathered flights.

Diverse Sizes

Owls in the UK range in size from the aforementioned little owl, at around 23 cm tall, to the tawny owl, 43 cm tall but with a wingspan of nearly a meter. If you’re thinking, “But what about eagle owls? Surely they’re bigger?” You’re absolutely right. The Eurasian eagle owl, Bubo bubo, can grow up to 75 cm tall with a wingspan of over 180 cm. But they’re not a native UK owl. You may be lucky enough to spot one that’s escaped from an aviary, or that’s wandered a little further from its usual territory than usual. The same goes for snowy owls, who occasionally visit these isles.

For me, the tawny owl is a regular visitor, and its calls – one owl screeching “Twit” while the other replies “Oooooh…” – echo through the night through spring and summer. It’s a reminder that magic is going on all around us, and sometimes you can witness it by simply being still and listening.

For more details: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/authors/mabh-savage

Mabh Savage is a Yorkshire Witch, Pagan author, and musician with a particular interest in Irish spirituality, and folklore from all across the U.K. and Ireland. She’s also a member of the global Covenant of Hekate and has assisted in some fascinating collaborative projects such as working with members all over the world to create a song for Hekate.
Mabh is the secretary of the Pagan Federation Children and Families Team, a group that aims to make life easier for Pagan families in England and Wales. She’s also the current editor of Aether, the magazine for Pagan families.
She’s been a member of the UK Green Party for many years, and believes firmly that it’s possible to reverse the damage being done to our planet with the right focus and action now.