In the palaeolithic caves of southern France the remains of snowy owls have been found, showing signs not of butchery, but preservation. In the Grotte Chauvet in the Ardèche region, there is a carving of an owl. It seems we have always been entranced by these birds. Harbingers of death, night creatures on eerily silent wings, associated with moonlight and darkness and cries in the churchyard but also bringers of wisdom, sacred to Athena, beautiful and otherworldly.
Great Grey Owl
The most striking feature of a great grey owl is its large circular facial disk with many dark concentric rings and a white "X" in the centre of the face. It is a very large bird, the world's largest by length 33". Its body feathers are long and fluffy which creates the impression of great size but underneath the actual body is small.