Owl Sightings and Other News

This week I'm watching our new resident Great Horned Owl. Oh yea, I have pictures...

The other day, I woke up and went about my day— as I usually do— making tea and eating a piece of fruit. And while I poured water from the kettle, I heard this crazy racket outside the sliding door. Crows were having a bitch fest in my back yard. Right on the deck, by the sound of it. I wanted to see them.

Not only did I see them, but I discovered the source of their complaint. One giant Great Horned Owl sat on the old maple tree not 25 feet from me. Crows weren’t the only birds who didn’t appreciate this new neighbor. Robins and grackles all made a riot about it. Daring birds swooped in and pecked at the poor predator’s head. Well, he didn’t mind too much, but he did throw them a few disturbing glances. Hey, cut that out!

Now, I’m loving my Galaxy Ultra phone because the camera and the zoom feature is amazing. So I’ve been taking pictures whenever I spot him. Here’s my new favorite photo subject-handsome, isn’t he?

Great Horned Owl in a maple tree.

What have I learned about Great Horned Owls?

Owls migrate to the same nesting and hunting grounds every year. Sometimes twice a year. They mate for life. That’s why you usually hear them talking to each other around dusk. The birds hate them- really they fear them- because they do prey on birds when they sleep at night. All that squawking and divebombing is to protect their nests. Crows, in particular, have a beef with owls because they share the same treetop nesting area.

That night, I caught a photo of our friend with his first victim, um, I mean dinner. (Keep reading for the owl video!)

Great Horned Owl sitting on his dinner, a nice fresh coney.

I hope he’ll stay and reduce the out of control rabbit population. All the critters moved over here from the new construction sites behind the house. They’re eating up my cilantro, they ate an entire Hosta. They eat the fuzzy perenn,ials too. Go figure. And go away.

Lessons learned from the great wise owl:

1. Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to writing and publishing. I’ve changed my mind about traditional publishing and am rewriting my YA paranormal thriller again. This time, I’ll publish independently.

2. Step back and enjoy the view . . . er, um, plot line. Owls have incredible distance vision. I’ve stepped back from my work and am seeing it with new eyes. I’m streamlining the plotline and zeroing in on my protagonist like that zoom lens on my Ultra, I can now see the smallest mistakes.

3. Don’t let the crows’ squawking —or the critics—get in your way of publishing your book. There are are so many successful indie authors. I can do this. I’m ready to fly.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. I know, owls seem so serious, but wait till you see this video.

Click on the photo for a funny video of our majestic owl friend.