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The photo below is of a young barred owl who has just repeatedly flown into the window by the cage of Clarence, my old quaker parrot. Clarence did not flinch while cleaning his feathers, even during a loud impact sound that brought me into the room. His cage has always been by a window. In three different houses over the years, barred owls have attacked at each location. The first time was in broad daylight over twenty-five years ago. Clarence was probably around a year old at the time and shrieked loudly in terror and flapped wildly. Now he does not even look up. The owls are not quick learners, and the attacks are usually repeated just to make sure the glass will not give.
We are both old creatures of habit. He expects to sit on my shoulder every evening before dinner. If I spend too much time entering a comment or post on Ricochet from my iPad instead of videos of my grandkids or something else with movement, sound or music, he gets annoyed and nibbles on my ear or just growls. There is some serenity available in routine. Pointless drama is for the young and confused ... and young dumb owls.
Discussion (6)
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Great picture!
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My daughter took that pic. She has set up a craft workshop in that room and has witnessed other owl attacks. They must find the prospect of grabbing a tasty green bird very tempting.
I am a raptor fan and like barred owls which are very common along the Potomac and the creeks, drainage ponds and forest patches near us. I often hear them at night outside my bedroom window. It is disappointing that they do not appear to be very bright despite a marvelous array of evolutionary refinements.
In the summer in rural PA on vacation years ago, we used take our kids and their friends on nighttime walks in the woods and play recorded owl calls on a boombox and they would respond and even perch above us to check out the source. Barred owls are especially responsive.
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Nature being nature - yes love the picture! What a cute routine!
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There is dinner, sitting still waiting for them... Hard to resist!
Schnapps the male eclectus sends greetings to Clarence
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UPDATE
Still not convinced that the window and cage are impenetrable barriers, the would-be parrot-eater was back tonight for another try after several minutes of patient observation. Clarence was unmoved.
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