File:Great Horned Owl, Evening (37903083162).jpg

NPS/Patrick Myers

This time of year, some celebrate the dark, gory side of Halloween night. But at Great Sand Dunes, nighttime means majestic beauty: stars, planets, and meteors light the sky; sandhill cranes make chortling calls as they return to wetlands; pale endemic noctuid moths flutter by; kangaroo rats jump five feet in the air; frogs and toads sing; mountain lions walk silently along Medano Creek; and owls hoot and soar.

The largest of Great Sand Dunes' 8 owl species is the Great Horned Owl. They are typically the first birds to nest each year, laying eggs in January or February.

Owl eyes don't move, but owls can turn their heads more than 180 degrees to look in any direction. Their faces are shaped like a satellite dish to capture dim nocturnal light and faint sounds. To demonstrate how sensitive their hearing is, rub two fingers together beside your ear. An owl can hear that sound from over 100 feet (33m) away! This is another reason that the National Park Service works hard to protect natural quiet in parks.

Nightime at Great Sand Dunes can be an inspiring experience! Learn more on the park website: <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/experiencethenight.htm" rel="nofollow">www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/experiencethenight.htm</a>

(To prevent disturbance of wild animals, all Great Sand Dunes wildlife photos are taken from a safe distance with a long zoom lens.)

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