Joan Holtzman
—I write here about real owls, the actual birds that inspired our acronym. The reason being that for almost two years these small creatures have become an unexpected and delightful part of my life. From the every first issue of the OWL, folks have been sending me photos, videos and paintings of owls; also stuffed toy owls and figurines, even a small drinking vessel in the form of an owl.
It is also the case that I have had some actual encounters with live owls. When I was traveling in Portugal last December, a man appeared outside a restaurant with an owl perched on his arm ready for a photo shoot. He wanted money to include me in the shot but I demurred and took this solo photo of the bird instead.
And recently, on a local hike, I got to see a roosting barn owl, in vivo. My fellow hikers were as surprised as I was when our guide led us to, and pointed at the spot, where he nestled in the eaves of an old barn.
I have also, somewhat mysteriously, been guided to information about owls. The first time was a couple of months ago when I was at the library looking for something else. It just happened that I spotted a book called, “What an Owl Knows” — a new book, on the recommended shelf, available for only a five day borrowing. Clearly, I was meant to read it, and I did. I recommend it.
And I wonder about my “finding” of a field guide devoted to owls. It happened last Thursday at the hardware store (where I was having a new key made for my old car). The man who was making the key showed me to a place where I could wait and the first thing I saw was this brochure, right at eye-level.
And then, a few days later, appearing in my local news feed was this item: ‘Grumpy’ Rescued Owl Gets Zoo Check
(Oakland Zoo image)
OAKLAND, CA — A Great Horned Owl is fortunate to be alive after it was rescued by California Highway Patrol officers from the center divide of Interstate Highway 580 in Castro Valley.
Dr. Alex Herman determined the owl was stable enough to transport to Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital in Walnut Cre
Coincidence? Synchronicity? Something else? No matter. Owls make me happy.
