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Mystery, Superstition and Imagination Ashton's Owls - part 1 of 1 2 3 4 5 6

by Jon Ashton Published 01/02/2012

Mystery and superstition have long been associated with the owl; mankind has always been suspicious of the owls because of his fear of darkness and those things that might lurk within. In many cultures, the hooting of an owl is taken as an omen of death or bad fortune, and it may even prophesise death - most people die at night, and for that reason the owl has been seen as the messenger of death. In the Old Testament the owl is an unclean creature that stands alone as a figure of desolation. For Christians the owl traditionally signifies the Devil, powers of evil, bad news, and destruction; in the Middle East, China and Japan, the owl is considered as both a bad omen and an evil spirit. Similarly, in an Australian aboriginal myth the owl is the messenger of bad news. Yama, the Verdic God of Death, sometimes sent out the owl as his emissary.

Wisdom has been equally associated with the owl: "The owl can see that which others cannot, which is the essence of true wisdom. Where others are deceived, owl sees and knows what is there".

More recently the owl has been popularised through modern literature and film-making; in Harry Potter, Hedwig is the white, snowy owl that Hagrid gives Harry for his eleventh birthday. Owls are magical creatures most often used for delivering post and parcels in the wizarding world. They are known for their speed and discretion and can find recipients without an address (not used by the GPO then - Ed.)

A brief overview of owls

Most owls are active at dusk and dawn, spending the daytime at a quiet, inconspicuous roost. They generally roost singly or in pairs, but may form flocks outside of the breeding season. (A group of owls is called a parliament.) The short-eared owl and barn owl may be seen hunting during daylight, the latter more usually in late afternoon. In the UK they breed primarily in northern England and Scotland, but are seen more widely in winter. According to the RSPB, "Short-eared owls are best looked for in winter on coastal marshes and wetlands. However, birdwatchers must be careful to avoid disturbance at communal roost sites."

• Mystery, Superstition and Imagination Ashton's Owls page 1
  
• Mystery, Superstition and Imagination Ashton's Owls page 2
  
• Mystery, Superstition and Imagination Ashton's Owls page 3
  
• Mystery, Superstition and Imagination Ashton's Owls page 4
  
• Mystery, Superstition and Imagination Ashton's Owls page 5
  
• Mystery, Superstition and Imagination Ashton's Owls page 6
  

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