owls

The German nature conservation group NABU, together with its Ukrainian partner organisation USPB, reports a successful 2026 breeding season for barn owls in Ukraine. The first egg was laid in one of the installed nest boxes on 19 March, and nesting sites were occupied across four regions. Conservationists are calling it good news for a species returning to the war-affected country.

Northern pygmy owls, among Oregon's smallest owls at barely six inches tall, are gaining attention for their surprisingly fierce hunting habits. Despite their cute appearance, they routinely take down prey nearly their own size, including songbirds and small mammals, ambushing them with sharp talons and relentless pursuit. Wildlife writers are highlighting the contrast between the birds' endearing looks and their predatory prowess, delighting readers who love learning that nature's smallest predators often punch well above their weight.

Australia has announced the creation of three new national parks in Victoria, aimed at protecting native wildlife such as gliders, owls, and other threatened species. The move expands protected habitat in the state and is being shared as an example of positive environmental news, with readers welcoming the step for conservation.

Wildlife photographer Toshan Wijeratne's work is being showcased, spanning subjects from Sri Lanka's leopards to Oregon's pygmy owls. The feature highlights his range across continents, documenting rare and elusive species in their natural habitats, and is drawing attention from wildlife and photography audiences in both regions.

An artist has shared a handmade miniature painting of a burrowing owl, painted on a pebble, as part of the seventh day of Owltober, a month-long owl-themed art challenge. The piece is done in miniature stone-art style and tagged across bird and craft communities. Responses so far are small, but the work highlights the ongoing Owltober drawing and painting challenge among artists this month.

Rice University tennis player Ratkovic has advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA regional tournament after winning through the earlier rounds of the competition. The university's athletics department announced the result, marking a strong postseason run for the Owls program as the NCAA tournament continues.

Temple University's men's tennis team secured 11 wins at the Saint Joseph's Invitational, facing strong opposition at the weekend tournament in Philadelphia. The results suggest encouraging early-season form for the Owls as players picked up victories across matches against a competitive field. Temple athletics highlighted the performance as a positive step for the programme heading into the rest of the fall schedule.

A photographer originally from Sri Lanka, known for work featuring leopards, has shifted his focus to Oregon's wildlife, including pygmy owls. The piece, published by OregonLive, profiles how he documents species in the Pacific Northwest after building his reputation photographing big cats in South Asia.

A family of barn owls in New York City is drawing widespread attention and affection from residents, earning the nickname of the city's latest famous family. The birds, reportedly on the Upper West Side, have charmed New Yorkers with their presence, a notable event given barn owls' rarity in the urban environment.

A still from the 1936 Hollywood musical 'Song and Dance Man' is being shared for its dramatic eyes and owl motif, with fans linking it to Halloween themes, witches and 1930s golden-age cinema. Posts pair the image with vintage pinup aesthetics and tag it under classic silver-screen nostalgia, reviving interest in a largely forgotten pre-war studio picture.

Rice University's tennis team, the Owls, delivered strong performances on the second day of the ITA Texas Regional tournament. The university's athletics program highlighted the team's success in regional competition, where players from schools across Texas compete for titles and advancement. Further details on individual results were not immediately available.

Australia has announced the creation of three new national parks in the state of Victoria, aimed at protecting native wildlife including gliders, owls and other threatened species. The move has been welcomed by conservationists as a positive step for habitat protection, with coverage highlighting it as rare good environmental news from the region.

OregonLive has published a photo feature on the northern pygmy owl, a small owl found in Oregon's forests. Despite their cute appearance and tiny size, these owls are fierce predators, taking on prey sometimes larger than themselves. The picture collection highlights the bird's charm and surprising hunting prowess.

Artists are continuing the Owltober daily challenge, with day five dedicated to autumn leaves. One participant shared a hand-painted miniature owl on a pebble, worked in autumn colours, while admitting they are behind on the prompt list and intend to catch up. The October drawing challenge is drawing small creative communities together as entries pile up.

An artist has shared a hand-painted stone miniature of an elf owl as part of Owltober, a month-long daily art challenge running through October. The sixth day's theme prompted this tiny bird artwork, painted on a pebble. The piece is tagged across art, bird and handmade craft communities, where seasonal drawing and painting challenges regularly draw participation and encouragement from fellow artists.

Home cooks are sharing collections of fall soup recipes as autumn sets in, ranging from creamy classics to hearty seasonal bowls. The recipes are promoted as ideal for cozy nights and easy dinners, highlighting squash, root vegetables and other autumn produce at its peak.

Rice University tennis players Kuzmenok and Czaplinski have advanced at the ITA Texas Regional, progressing past the early rounds of the collegiate tournament. The university's athletics department announced the result, marking a positive step for the Owls in regional competition. Further details on their opponents or next matches were not provided in the announcement.

Three Rice University tennis players have advanced to the main draw at the ITA Texas Regionals, according to an announcement from Rice Athletics. The result marks a solid early showing for the Owls in the fall collegiate tournament season, with the main bracket now featuring the program's representatives among the region's top college players.

A 100-year-old military veteran is still rolling strikes at the bowling alley, according to US local news reports featuring the centenarian. Coverage highlights his remarkable health and active lifestyle at an age when most people have long stopped playing sports. The story has been picked up by multiple ABC stations, drawing warm reactions as an uplifting human-interest piece about longevity, resilience and staying active well past 100.

Travellers in Trentino, Italy are sharing experiences from hiking trips in the Dolomites and visits to the Parco Faunistico di Spormaggiore, a wildlife park in the Brenta area known for its owls and alpine animals. The posts highlight the region as a destination combining mountain trails with a small family-friendly zoo showcasing local fauna.

The Bank of England has announced that its next series of banknotes will carry images of British wildlife, including barn owls, bees, puffins and hedgehogs. The move follows the rollout of notes bearing King Charles III's portrait and is expected to be debated as a celebration of national nature and conservation efforts.

The food site Budget Bytes is highlighting how a single baked sweet potato can serve as a cheap, versatile base for many different meals, whether topped with grains, beans or loaded toppings. The vegetarian-friendly idea is drawing attention as an affordable way to stretch groceries and keep weeknight cooking simple.

A wildlife photographer stopped by the side of the road to photograph a burrowing owl perched nearby, sharing the resulting portrait with nature and birdwatching communities. The close-up image is being appreciated for the owl's striking appearance, drawing engagement from wildlife and photography enthusiasts online.

In Grand Junction, Colorado, The Art Center and The ARTery are joining forces for Empty Bowls, a community fundraiser built around handcrafted ceramic bowls. Organizers fill attendees' bowls with soup, tying the meal to hunger relief efforts. The collaboration brings together two local arts organizations for a shared charitable cause.

The webcomic The Crime Cats has released its day-eight entry for the Mörktober art challenge, a strip titled 'Wail' featuring one of its 'crime cat' characters yowling into the abyss. The artist shared the comic with a morning greeting and invited readers to support the work through Ko-fi. The joke riffs on the Nietzsche abyss quote in feline form.

The mobile game Owl New World is available to play in early access on iOS and Android, and players can add it to their wishlist on Steam ahead of a PC release. The announcement is drawing attention from the indie game development community, where the studio is sharing progress and encouraging players to try the game early on mobile while waiting for the Steam version.

Ema Baraniakova of Kennesaw State University has been named the Conference USA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Month. The honor recognizes her standout performances in recent competition for the Owls. Kennesaw State Athletics announced the recognition, adding to the program's growing profile within the conference.

The annual Birdtober bird-a-day challenge is featuring the spectacled owl, a nocturnal species that haunts South American tropical forests. Known in Brazilian Portuguese as "murucututu", the bird is noted for its unsettling call, which has been compared to the sound of an old engine. Nature enthusiasts online are sharing facts and images as the month-long event continues.

A group of barn owls has become the newest residents of Manhattan's Upper West Side, according to local news outlet Hell Gate. The arrival of the owls — collectively known as a 'parliament' — is drawing attention from New Yorkers charmed by wildlife setting up shop in a dense urban neighborhood better known for brownstones than birds of prey.

The Bank of England has announced that Britain's next banknotes will feature native wildlife, with barn owls, bumblebees, puffins and hedgehogs chosen for the new designs. The four species were selected following a public consultation, though the bank has yet to decide which animal will appear on which denomination. The move follows the tradition of depicting notable figures and themes on British currency.