And eventually you realize you haven't really seen side-eye...
Hey.
Back off, people.
Don't make me bite you...
I mean it. Get outta my face!!!
...until you've seen snake side-eye.
The snakes on the Isle are so big, I didn't recognize this one until it was too late!
OH NOOOOOOOOOOOO......
We're being eaten!!!!!
It claims to be a "bicycle/pedestrian overpass" but I say "Pshaw" to that.
I'm sticking to my story.
It totally ate me.
Apparently, rattling is all the rage in the desert. Some snakes really rattle (this is a Western Diamondback), but others, like the Sonoran Gopher Snake make fake rattling sounds, and even our old friend the Burrowing Owl makes a fake rattle-chirp. What are we going to do about all these snakes? Make more, of course! Cue: bonus snake origami tutorial (it really bites)!
There are many Owls on this Desert Isle, but you asked me especially about two of them, so that's what I have found for you, my wee nature lovers. First the Elf Owl:
Elfies sure are cute! and tiny!
Life-sizedelf owl!!!!
They live in this region:
and like to nest in cacti-holes because no one can get them there.
"What me, eat bugs?"
Links on this website don't work, so cut and paste to find their "All's Well" call: http://www.owlpages.com/sounds/Micrathene-whitneyi-1.mp3 and C&P this to hear them be alarmed: http://www.owlpages.com/sounds/Micrathene-whitneyi-2.mp3 (scroll down this page to hear more calls)
And last but not least, what you really want to see... tiny elf owlets!
Elflets?
Okay, Elf Owls are pretty great, so there can't be another local owl that interesting, can there? Oh yes there are... Burrowing Owls Burrowers are called Burrowers because...
they live in burrows (duh). <-- Also in pipes, if they find a good one, like this one. Very sleek and modern, don't you think?
They have a much larger range than Elfies. And they sound different: Here's their "What's up?" call Here's their "Watch out!" call
....and they don't mess around eating only lame old bugs.
WHAAAAAAAT????? That used to be a frog!
but bad-ass Burrower doesn't stop there, oh no... he'll totally try to catch a BADGER!
and you would too, if you had two cutie puffs like this waiting at home for you.
(perhaps you can make out some pleading words in their weak little voices)
"Mommy, can you catch us an elephant, pretty please?"
"Yeah, or a whale? We're reeeeeeeallly hungry!"
Here's a clip of a Burrower getting huffy about a turtle nosing into his business,
and here, a more detailed view of their burrows, plus... Burrowing Owls love BISON POOP!
