Love those owls. Had a hoot owl in a nearby creek bed and I loved to hear it. Unfortunately, it didn't nest there long. Had an accomplished birder show me how to call in screech owls using just a whistle and some spit in the back of my throat. He warned, when you hear them getting pretty close, stop doing the calls or you'll get a territorial male dive bombing your face, and that isn't good. A raptor expert pointed out that the great horned owl is so combative, it will evict eagles from their own nests. Owls have talons that somewhat lock closed so they don't drop their prey.