The Christmas Owl: How Our Owls Celebrate the Season

Seasonal Celebrations
November 18, 2025

A real-life holiday story from Ramona Barn Owls

(and the festive designs it inspired)

There’s something about December that brings out the best in feathers. Maybe it’s the lights. Maybe it’s the chill in the air. Or maybe the owls just know when it’s time for Christmas.

A Christmas owl perched in a glowing pine is something you might actually see on any given December night. We can’t quite explain it. We just know our owls love this time of year.

They sit out there like they’re admiring the decorations, perfectly content to watch the season unfold.

Our Fairy Owlet Mother, Stacey Mae Rudge, is right in the middle of it all, making sure both the humans and the owls feel part of the celebration.

Because around here, we don’t just celebrate Christmas. We celebrate the Owlidays.

A Real-Life Christmas Owl Story

Every November, when the lights go up, the owls come out.

Stacey and her crew decorate the big pine trees near two of the owl boxes, with Christmas lights and huge ornaments, using a boom lift to reach the highest branches.

Lights twinkle, and sometimes in the middle of all that glow… you’ll spot an owl.

They perch in the branches like they’re part of the display. Which is funny, considering we always tell people to turn off their lights when they are trying to attract owls because owls like it dark. Ours? Well, they must’ve missed the memo.

They don’t hide. They don’t fly off. They just hang out. Around here, it’s become a running joke that the owls celebrate Christmas right along with us.

We’re not the only ones who’ve seen a real-life Christmas owl make headlines. In 2020, a tiny Northern Saw-whet owl nicknamed Rocky was discovered nestled inside the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree after it arrived in New York City.

Hungry but unharmed, she was rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild — and later inspired a children’s book about rediscovering the spirit of the season.

Her story reminded us a lot of our own owls here in Ramona — proof that even in the busiest, brightest places, wildlife finds its way into our holiday traditions.

Meet the Ramona Christmas Owls

If you’ve followed us for a while, you might recognize a few familiar faces from our live cams and videos. There’s Hoppy, the curious one who once landed right in the middle of the Christmas lights back in 2020.

And if you thought Hoppy’s 2020 cameo was adorable, just wait! Soon the trees will be twinkling again, and who knows which of our owls will show up for this year’s Christmas festivities?

Tune in to our livestream or follow along on social media to see who shows up under the lights this season.

The Mystery of the Lights (and the Music)

You’d think all that brightness and noise would send them packing—but not our crew.

The first year Stacey hosted a Christmas concert at the ranch, she worried the music would scare them off.

Turns out, owls have better taste in music than we thought.

As the band played, two barn owls started circling overhead. A third perched above the crowd, staring down at everyone.

They didn’t just tolerate the music—they joined in. Flying through the lights, circling the party, completely unbothered by the crowd. It was like they wanted front-row seats.

It just proves that they’re more social and curious than we think.

But why? Why would a nocturnal bird built for darkness keep showing up where the lights are brightest?

Owl Behavior Explained: Why They May Stick Around the Lights

Scientists have been studying how artificial light at night affects owls all over the world.

They’ve found that bright lights can make life tricky for nocturnal hunters—especially barn owls, who are less likely to nest in well-lit places. Their eyes are made for shadow, not spotlight.

Still, at our ranch, the owls seem happy to bend the rules.

They keep coming back to the same softly lit pine trees year after year, perfectly content to perch in a place where the lights feel familiar, not threatening — a rare spot where gentle glows don’t drive them off, but seem to signal safety.

Maybe it’s the familiar setting. Maybe it’s the easy hunting. It could be a bit of local adaptation — or simply that they feel right at home here.

Either way, they’ve decided the party’s worth attending. And honestly, who can blame them? Around here, even the barn owls have learned how to make the most of the Owlidays.

A New Tradition in the Making

This season, Stacey’s adding something new to the Owliday celebrations: a Christmas feast for the owls — a well-earned meal for our year-round night shift.

It’s our way of saying thank you — for another year of feathers, light, and laughter.

Want to see the feast in action? We’ll be filming the celebration and sharing it on our YouTube Channel and social media — come join us for a front-row seat to the Christmas magic.

Festive Flair: Our Owl-Inspired Holiday Collection

The magic doesn’t stop at the owl boxes — it shows up in our owl clothing line, too.

Those same quirky owls that crash our Christmas parties also inspired one of our favorite seasonal designs — our Friends Collection, a limited-edition series that only hatches once a year.

Front view of red women’s V-neck T-shirt with Friends owl design

Limited Edition Owl V-Neck T-Shirt | Fun Holiday Shirt for Women

$30.00

Materials: 50% polyester / 25% airlume combed and ring-spun cotton / 25% rayon
Colors: Red, Dark Pink
Sizes: S–2XL
Don’t see the size you’re looking for? Ask us—we might be able to get it for you!
Care tip: Wash inside out, use cold water, and skip the dryer—and they will stay vibrant for the long run.
Mission: 100% of profits fund wildlife research, rescue & education.

Each piece features one of five original owl characters, all based on real residents here at Ramona Barn Owls:

The Clumsy One, forever tangled in Christmas lights — inspired by a real owlet who can’t quite land without knocking something over.
The Santa Owl, because someone has to deliver the rodents.
The Reindeer-Dog Hybrid, honoring Stacey’s other great love — dogs.
The Hot-Pink Barbie Elf Owl, a burst of Ramona Barn Owls’ signature pink — proof that joy belongs on your wings.
The Cat-in-the-Hat Owl, rocking the classic RBO pink glasses and celebrating our differences.

If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas owl gift, our Christmas Collection is where you’ll find it.

Our Favorite Christmas Owl Gifts

We Humans Go Owl-Out for the Owlidays

The owls might be the stars of the show, but we humans have our own way of getting festive, too.

Stacey gives her owl Christmas-card photos a little holiday flair by photoshopping tiny hats, Santa beards, and playful edits that always get a laugh.

And when you order from us during the Owlidays, your package gets the full treatment: pink snowflake mailers, owl stickers, and bright, snowy inserts. It’s festive, it’s fun, and it’s very us.

Because for every cozy hoodie or soft tee that ships out, we’re not just sending you a gift — we’re sending a piece of the mission.

Every sale helps fund wildlife education and promote poison-free pest control — the kind that keeps owls alive and hooting happily for many Christmases to come.

How to Celebrate Like an Owl

Want to bring a little Owliday spirit to your own home?

Go light but gentle. Use soft, warm LED lights that shine bright without overwhelming the night sky.
Skip the poison. Owls are nature’s best pest control — rodent poisons hurt the very birds keeping your ecosystem balanced.
Give gifts that give back. Shop from small, mission-driven brands (like ours!) that protect wildlife and celebrate the natural world.
Look up. Take a quiet moment outside one night this month — you might just spot your own local Christmas owl watching from above.

From Our Barn to Yours

As we hang the lights and settle in for another Owliday season, we’re reminded that this mission has always been about more than owls — it’s about connection. Between humans and wildlife. Between families and nature. Between one small ranch in Ramona and owl lovers all around the world.

From the entire Ramona Barn Owls family, thank you for being part of our flock this year.

May your nights be cozy, your skies clear, and your heart a little wilder this season.

Merry Christmas, and happy Owlidays.

Cute RBO owl with pink glasses on a Christmas background with lights and ornaments, perfect for an Owl Christmas greeting.

FAQs About Our Christmas Owls

Do barn owls really show up during Christmas?

Yes! Every year when the lights go up at Ramona Barn Owls, at least a few of our barn owls perch right in the decorated trees near the owl boxes. It’s become a real-life holiday tradition — we even joke that they come for the music.

Why don’t the lights scare them away?

Scientists say owls usually prefer darker areas, but our local Ramona owls seem to have adapted to the lights and sounds of the season. Maybe it’s familiarity, maybe it’s curiosity — or maybe they just like a little sparkle.

Can people come see the owls at Christmas?

The owls are wild and live freely here in Ramona, but you can often catch them on our live owl cam or social media during the holidays. Follow along to see their late-night antics and our special Owliday feast.

How does buying from the Friends Collection help the owls?

Every purchase supports our ongoing mission to promote poison-free pest control and wildlife education. It’s a simple way to give (or gift!) something meaningful while helping real owls thrive in the wild.