Owl Story by mrestey

Photography • Animals • posted on Feb 12, 2010

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Description

A fun story to share with you... When you look at the photo of my kayak on the shore, you are facing the southern direction of our campsite. Bear with me. I have a reason for telling you this... One night, while the wife and myself were sitting around the campfire, we heard the distant hoot of an owl off to the south of the lake. Then a distant hoot of an owl to the north behind us. Then another hoot from the south ever so slightly closer. Then another hoot from the north just a bit closer. The sound they made sounded like someone hooting "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?". This calling back and forth, and the steady, gradual juxtaposing of these two birds went on for some time as we sat in quiet anticipation. Soon the owls were so close to us we were straining our eyes, peering into the dark hoping for a glimpse of these majestic nighttime birds of prey. Then, suddenly just a couple of empty campsites away we heard one hell-of-a ruckus as the two owls met in a tree and greeted each other with what is known as caterwauling. LOL, we had no idea at the time what was going on. We didn't know if they were fighting or mating or what. It was only later when we researched them and went to the owl show (where I took the below picture of an owl who - due to the loss of a wing cannot return to the wild) that we learned that it is a common greeting among Barred owls. The Barred owl below is one of a number of types of owls I got shots of at a show where owls who cannot take care of themselves in the wild were featured to help educate people about these beautiful birds of the night. I hope you enjoy this brief story and the photo. Wait 'til you see the Eagle owl! Gorgeous & HUGE!

Comments (18)

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Erestorfan

5:43PM | Fri, 12 February 2010

LOL...I remember that night very well. What a ruckus sounding through an otherwise quiet campground!! I loved this little owl at the owl show. She just sat there, taking everything in and was very calm.

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shadownet

5:54PM | Fri, 12 February 2010

Beautiful capture!

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RodS Online Now!

6:16PM | Fri, 12 February 2010

OK - SOMEONE has to say it, so it might as well be me..... Sounds like that night was a real hoot! Well, now that THAT'S out of my system..... What a great shot of a magnificent bird! I think owls are just the coolest creatures. Love 'em!! This is a really neat photo - can't wait to see the eagle owl! I may just have to take you up on your offer to come to NH and camp with you. Awesome - listening to owls next to the lake and dining on lobster and rack of lamb...LOL!

Foto-Arte

6:18PM | Fri, 12 February 2010

Really beautiful work!

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bcrathburn

7:51PM | Fri, 12 February 2010

what a wondeful story and photo love it+5

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watapki66

9:44PM | Fri, 12 February 2010

Wonderful shot and story!

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bazza

9:46PM | Fri, 12 February 2010

What a great story would be a bit scary not knowing what these two owls were up to. Nice shot of this bird, well done..

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ledwolorz

2:39AM | Sat, 13 February 2010

Fantastic photo and story.

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njb2000

3:39AM | Sat, 13 February 2010

Great birds, there is one that sits outside the house in the trees hooting in the dawn and dusk!

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zulaan

3:52AM | Sat, 13 February 2010

Wow ! :)

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Nickieboy2004

1:59PM | Sat, 13 February 2010

Great shot of this owl. Nicely done!

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Jedi_Padawan

2:22PM | Sat, 13 February 2010

The story is wonderful and the picture of the owl, too. Good to hear that there's a place where people take care of owls who can't return to the wild. Please keep it up! ~Sassy~

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chimera46

10:03PM | Sat, 13 February 2010

Great shot, owls = awesome!

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durleybeachbum

5:31AM | Sun, 14 February 2010

A great tale, and a super pic!

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jendellas

11:02AM | Sun, 14 February 2010

Good story & handsome owl pic!!!!

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Raddar

5:24PM | Sun, 14 February 2010

You know it's funny but that happens in my house almost every night. I call from the south side of our house,"Who cooks for me." My wife calls back from the north side of our house, "You cook for yourself." We meet somewhere in the middle and one hell of a ruckus begins.

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