Friday, September 9, 2022

The sentinel

Early one morning I glanced out the window and noticed one of our trees had acquired a new shape.

Here's a close-up.

I'm fond of owls, having spent many years surveying various species during my days as a field biologist. However we seem to have far fewer great-horned owls here than at our last home, which is why I was pleased to see this sentinel on the property.

Of course, I may feel differently when we get chickens again ... though rest assured, their nights will be spent locked inside a coop for just such a reason.

I spent a few minutes admiring the visitor before it flew off. The sun was close to rising, and doubtless it was heading out for a day of rest. Au revoir.

6 comments:

  1. I rarely even hear owls around anymore. Until just a year or so ago they used to be a nightly occurrence

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  2. We have a huge owl population here in nw Tennessee

    I love listening to their early morning calls

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  3. We have a good population of Barred Owls here in NW Georgia. I love their "who cooks for you?" call and am amazed when occasionally seeing one fly silently through the woods.

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  4. Oh wow, he looks big! A beautiful creature!

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  5. He might like chicken tenders for lunch of an early dinner before the tenders go to bed. Or, do owls never come out in the day. In the middle of a city I lost two hens to hawks and the kid across the street lost three cats. So, those poor chickens will be game day or night. I was prepared for the raccoons at night. And, the hens were locked up!

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  6. Our local great horned owl pair seem to know when we go camping. We come home to a few chickens beheaded and slaughtered.

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