Can You Look Me in the Eye?
48 x 48 acrylic on wood panel
A great horned owl landing on a branch. Making eye contact with the viewer, she implores us to recognize her sentience and innate value.
Pine trees are a favorite nesting place for owls, including the great horned owl. Great horned owls nest in evergreen coniferous trees because they provide coverage year around. They hunt nocturnally and roost during the day. Crows and other species harass owls, so they try to stay well hidden. Great horned owls provide valuable services to humans and the greater ecosystem including helping to maintain balance in rodent populations. This protects our homes and crops. Please don’t use rodenticides even inside your homes; poisoned rodents make easy prey for owls, passing the poison to the owl when the rodents are ingested. This leads to a very slow and painful death for these magnificent and sentient creatures. Owls and other species are valuable, regardless of any value assessed by humans. They have an innate value and a right to thrive. Let’s give them the consideration they deserve.
