The Great Horned Owl and American Barn Owl - Scott Rashid - Saturday, Feb. 28th -6pm-8pm

Join us at the ranch, Saturday, February 28th, for one of SDR’s delectable dinners, accompanied by a program by Scott Rashid, our avian expert! What a treat!

Cost: $57 per person, plus 3.7% state tax & suggested 15% gratuity - book online here: Winter Dinner

Dinner begins at 6pm, program to follow.
CHEF’S CHOICE MENU - details to come

Dinners will be full fare – salad, entrée, fresh vegetables, side dish, rolls, and dessert. Hot and cold drink station.

Wine and beer selection additional, cash bar.

The Great Horned Owl and the Barn Owl

Enjoy a presentation on two of North America’s most majestic predators, the Great Horned Owl and the American Barn Owl.

The Great Horned Owl is the largest and most powerful owl in North America. These magnificent birds are found in virtually every habitat in the country. They can live in cities, mountains, and even the plains of North America. They can live almost anywhere and feed on virtually anything, from insects to full-grown turkeys.

As with the other owls, Great Horned Owls do not construct their own nests but rather use the abandoned nests of other birds including eagles, hawks, crows, and ravens. During the presentation, you will see images of the owls’ nesting sites in different parts of the country.

The American Barn Owl is the most beneficial bird in the country, as these birds feed upon over a thousand destructive mammals in a nesting season. Several years ago, we noticed that Barn Owls seemed to be declining in Northern Colorado, due to loss of habitat and loss of nesting sites. That’s when I decided to do something about it and began constructing nest boxes for the owls and placing them in the proper habitat, so the birds have safe places to breed and raise their families.

We began placing video cameras inside and outside several nest boxes to document their courtship and nesting activities. In doing this, we have learned an immense amount of information that could not have been obtained without these cameras.

During the presentation, attendees will see images and videos of both species’ as well as their courtship activities, habitat preferences, food preferences, nesting habits, incubation periods, growth of the young, and more.

Scott Rashid has been passionate about owls ever since the early 1980s and has been involved in wild bird banding and rehabilitation for many years. After moving to Colorado in 1989, he began banding, researching, and photographing several avian species. Scott will explore the four species of small mountain owls that inhabit Northern Colorado. Scott is the director of the Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institution (CARRI) and has been working with birds including hawks, owls, falcons, songbirds, and hummingbirds for more than 30 years. He has written and illustrated 6 books including Small Mountain Owls and Exploring the World of the Barn Owl (an intimate look into their secretive lives).

We're excited to have him share his stories with us!