The Brown Wood Owl
In Forests, Literature and Mythology
#intothewildwithrufus
This is the brown wood owl. I chanced upon this cute human-faced owl couple in the morning around 6.30 in Nagarhole, Karnataka.
Well, owls are fascinating nocturnal hunters, most active at night, resting during the day in tree hollows, and in dense trees like these, where they beautifully blend in, well-camouflaged in their forest environment.
They are found in South and Southeast Asia, and they have a kinda humanlike face as well.
These Brown Wood Owls are highly territorial birds, usually hunting and nesting in the same area. And like the hornbills and the eagles, owls are socially monogamous and so they pair for life, and both parents contributing to raising their young.
In Greek and Roman mythology the owl is a powerful and positive symbol of wisdom, intelligence, and strategic insight, primarily due to its close connection with the revered Greek goddess Athena and the Roman goddess Minerva.
This small owl is often depicted perched on Athena’s shoulder, acting as her guide, companion, and advisor. It was believed to reveal truths and hidden knowledge, allowing Athena to see in the dark both literally and metaphorically.
This phrase is still used today, particularly in philosophical contexts. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel famously wrote in Elements of the Philosophy of Right: “The owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of the dusk.”
This metaphor suggests that philosophy (and true understanding) often arrives only after events have unfolded, allowing for reflection and comprehension of what has transpired.
Jennifer Ackerman, author of the highly engaging book on owls, titled, What an Owl Knows, has some very exciting information on offer, as regards the new science concerning the ‘world’s most enigmatic birds’.
She also calls them ‘Wolves of the Sky’, highlighting their unique predatory abilities like the wolves that are largely active during the night, making them masters of the night.
Much groundbreaking work has been done on their superb night vision and hearing, their extraordinary ability to locate noises, their near-soundless flight—adaptations that make owls a pinnacle not just of the food chain but of evolution itself.
Owls have exquisite sensitivity to light and movement. They can see ultraviolet light, too!
She adds –
What is it about owls that so enthralls us?
They appear in the Chauvet Cave paintings of France dating to 30,000 years ago and in the hieroglyphics of ancient Egyptians, in Greek mythology and among the deities of the Ainu people of Japan, in the prints and etchings of Picasso and as couriers in the Harry Potter stories, shuttling between the realm of matter-of-fact Muggles and the magical.
They inhabit our languages and are embedded in our sayings.
When we’re cranky, stubborn, uncooperative, we are “owly.” If we stay up late or are active at night, we’re “night owls.” If we’re aged and sage, we’re “wise old owls.”
Their flight is velvety quiet, and their hunting skills, often deployed in pitch black, inspire awe.
They’re often viewed as prophets or messengers. The Greeks believed that an owl flying over a battlefield predicted victory. In the early folklore of India, owls crop up as symbols of wisdom and prophecy.
They are cryptic and camouflaged, secretive and active at a time when access to field sites is challenging.
Owls are not only cryptic, guarded, and secretive, they’re also dissidents and iconoclasts, rule breakers. We think of owls as solitary, for instance, but a few species congregate—like those Long-eared Owls that roost in big colonies.
Owls set my head a-whirr with questions. Why do they wield such a hold on the human imagination? They have a reputation for wisdom, but are they smart? Do they act by instinct alone, or are they curious and inventive? Do they have feelings and emotions? Why do an owl’s eyes, alone in the bird world, face the same way ours do?
“If anyone knows anything about anything,” says Winnie-the-Pooh, “it’s Owl who knows something about something.”
Owls have truths to tell us, from afar—from their perches and nests deep in old-growth forests, deserts, the Arctic—and from up close, in the hands of vets, rehabbers, researchers, and educators. We would be wise to listen,
observes Jeniffer on her prefatory to this lovely book on ‘owls’.
So what makes Owl attain this celebratory status in Milne’s Winnie?
“Winnie-the-Pooh” is a children’s book written by A.A. Milne. The characters and setting were inspired by Milne’s own son, Christopher Robin Milne, and his collection of stuffed animals.
It is a collection of ten episodic short stories that chronicle the gentle adventures of Pooh and his friends. Each chapter presents a new situation or problem that the characters navigate with their unique personalities and approaches.
Winnie-the-Pooh (or Pooh Bear): The titular character, a good-natured, honey-loving bear of very little brain, known for his simple wisdom and loyalty.
Christopher Robin: The kind and imaginative boy who interacts with his toy animals, often serving as their guide and problem-solver. He's based on Milne's son.
Piglet: Pooh’s timid but devoted best friend, who often overcomes his fears for the sake of his friends.
Eeyore: A gloomy, pessimistic donkey who is always prepared for the worst, yet is loved by his friends.
Owl: The self-proclaimed intellectual of the group, known for his long-winded explanations and (sometimes inaccurate) knowledge, as the quote you provided highlights.
Rabbit: Practical, organized, and sometimes a bit bossy, but ultimately cares for his friends.
Kanga and Roo: A mother kangaroo and her energetic joey, who bring a sense of family and nurturing to the Wood. (Tigger is introduced in the sequel, “The House at Pooh Corner.”)
Coming back,
Jennifer Ackerman has a lot to say about many species of owls, from around the world. She even has a mention of the Forest Owlet and the Mottled Wood Owl, in India. However, her book doesn’t mention the Brown Wood Owl, which is different from the Mottled Wood Owl.
One thing however stands out in her observations. She says -
In some cultures, owls are literally loved to death. In India, on the night of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is said to travel the earth, visiting homes lit with lamps. In Hindu mythology, owls are considered the vahana (or vehicle) of Lakshmi.
Some people believe that killing an owl—although it’s illegal to do so—will trap Lakshmi in their house, bringing them good luck and wealth all year round. As a consequence, the Festival of Lights brings death to thousands of owls, she says.
The Times of India, in its issue dated 7th November 2018, (on Diwali day) also throws ample light on the practice of killing owls at some places in India.
Jennifer in her concluding remarks has this to say –
Even as we are all part of the problem, we are also part of the solution. What can an individual do? I put the question to a range of owl experts -
Do what you can, they said. Advocate for the preservation of critical habitat and against forces that destroy it —logging, urbanization, agricultural development. Create owl habitat yourself, safe places for owls to roost and nest.
Check live trees for hollows before felling or trimming them, and leave snags and other dead trees standing when they don’t pose a risk.
Put up nest boxes. Use traps to control rats and mice rather than poisons. Learn what you can about owls around you.
Who lives there? And where do they live? What are the threats facing them? Go out to try to find your local owls, but be aware of the impact you’re having. Using playback to draw in owls can stress already stressed birds. Be courteous and respectful.
Get to know owls in whatever way you can, she says.
“Exploring the lives of these creatures is always a rich and rewarding activity and can be full of surprises.”
To young people interested in a career, I want to say that owls are way more complex than we think, way cooler than we can imagine. And there’s still so much to explore, to discover. It’s an exciting place to be,”
she signs off!
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