It’s been a long winter for the owls and with the deep snow pack on the north slopes, it’s tougher for them to find food. I don’t know if it’s because of determination to find food or whether this particular owl knows me not to be a threat. I took the photo below from about four feet away (it’s among many of the latest close ups). Another foot closer and I could have touched it. The owl seems quite used to my presence – I’m almost certain it’s the same owl I’ve seen in the backyard now for at least six years, so perhaps it recognizes my face (crows and mockingbirds are reported to be able to recognize faces and aggressors, so why not owls too?).
