Owl or bump on a tree?

“The owls are not what they seem.”

-David Lynch, Twin Peaks

Owls are notoriously hard to find in the wild. They are secretive and evasive by nature. When they fly, their wings are practically soundless. The colors of their feathers blend into their habitat. And, in the case of the Great Horned Owl, when the wind blows their feathers it mimics leaves blowing in the wind.

I used to call this camouflage, but there is a better word for it: crypsis. Crypsis is an evolutionary strategy that allows animals multiple ways to blend into their surroundings. From matching their background with pattern and color (like reptiles) to the bold patterns of disruptive coloration (think reef fish or zebras) to the countershading of owl feathers (either a lighter or darker shade on top) to masquerading where they resemble an object like a bump on a tree.

I mention this crypsis mumbo-jumbo to justify that I could not find Owl Dad tonight. I knew he was close. Someone near me spotted him and tried to navigate my eyes, but I still couldn’t locate him.

So if you hear an owl and can’t find it, don’t take it to heart. Nature means for it to be that way.

(At least that is what I tell myself.)