Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

And just who is this grand duke?  Royalty in Potton?  In fact, Chemin du Grand-Duc leads to residences built on the western flank of Owl's Head.  Perhaps the Great Horned Owl, being one of the largest of owls native to North America, might be considered royalty of a sort.  The Bubo virginianus is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.  An average adult measures 22 in (55 cm) long with a 49 in (124 cm) wingspan and weighs about 3.1 lbs (1400 g).  Adults have large ear tufts, a reddish, brown or gray face and a white patch on the throat.  A distinguishing feature of the Great Horned Owl is the yellow iris of its eyes.  Its "horns" are neither ears nor horns, simply tufts of feathers.  The underparts are light with brown barring; the upper parts are mottled brown.  The legs and feet are covered in feathers up to the talons.

Great Horned Owls are some of the earliest birds to breed in North America, beginning in late January or early February.  They are often heard calling to each other in the fall, starting in October.  They choose a mate by December and can be heard duetting before this time.  They often take over a nest used by other large birds, sometimes adding feathers to line the nest but usually not much more.  Old crow and raven, Red-tailed hawk or large squirrel nests are often favored in North America.  However, they are far from dependent on the old nests of others.

Thoreau summarized his perception of owls when he wrote Walden in 1854's: "I rejoice that there are owls. Let them do the idiotic and maniacal hooting for men. It is a sound admirably suited to swamps and twilight woods which no day illustrates, suggesting a vast and underdeveloped nature which men have not recognized. They represent the stark twilight and unsatisfied thoughts which all [men] have."

Owls have often been associated with misfortune, likely due to their nocturnal activity and common screeching call.  However, they have also been associated with wisdom and prosperity, frequently being companion animals for goddesses.  In Hindu mythology, the barn owl is considered to be the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and thus, it is considered lucky if an owl resides near a house.  The Greek goddess Athena was commonly depicted accompanied by an owl and it has remained a common Western symbol of wisdom.  This symbolism is evident in the frequent use of an owl in the logos of institutions such as universities and libraries.^[1]