It is Sunday and I was up very late into the wee hours of the morning creating body butter and soap, so I slept in a bit and did not go outside to do chores until 1 pm. There was no big ruckus in the barnyard and everything appeared normal, that is until I saw one of the chickens by the wood pile. But, no, wait, that is not a chicken. It is a Snow Owl or Snowey Owl. What is he doing here in the middle of the afternoon in broad daylight? I approached him and he turned his head without turning his body, one eye half closed. He looked relaxed and totally unafraid of me. I was only about 10 feet away and still he did not move. I lifted my arms and looked right at him and he flew up and over the wood pile, but not more than another 10 feet from me. I ran at him with my arms up and he flew up to the top of the power pole, where he stayed the rest of the day, digesting the beautiful Rouen duck he just devoured half of.
This must have been the owl that was here in the winter, now back from his summer haunt and back at the Fat Ewe Farm to dine. That he showed absolutely no fear of me was uncanny. He watched me the rest of the day. The ravens, frantic with the invader in "their" territory flew at him, but not too close. He remained as he was, steadfast atop the post, watching me. In the winter he took about a dozen ducks, always a duck, usually a big drake, and ate the crop and neck, then left the rest. I had to research the critters that ate this way. The owl was top of the list and likely the only one, being a sky predator, that could easily escape the watchful eyes of the dogs. Most of the farm birds do fly, so an owl would not be something they would pay attention to.
I looked up the symbolic meaning of an owl visitor, since he seemed to be watching me, and although he was busy eating my duck at first, he did not try to return to her. Owls are purported to bring news of death or change. The death is usually of a close loved one. My mother comes to mind first, since she is hanging by a thread these days. But then I read more, and the death could be a drastic change in the way of one's life, or work too. Interesting, since the palm reader I saw in White Rock said I would be doing a new job, one that I have never done before, that I would absolutely love. Hmmmm.
So, I spent a good deal of time getting the birds into their respective pens and closing the doors. The way I discouraged the owl previously was not to let the birds out until 10 am, hoping that he will have fed long before that and not bother the farm. The plan worked and he gave up coming and then left for the summer. Back now, the birds will be on lockdown for a few days, then only let out after 10 am again and put to bed at dark. Hopefully the owl will not turn to the pot belly piglets or 3 remaining baby bunnies that I cannot catch, for his supper, but leave. He has a strong penchant for duck anyhow and has never taken a chicken. The chickens are locked up just in case.
Magical visitor or not, and beautiful as he is, he is not welcome here. I told him so in not so many words. I hope he gets the message, because I do not like to have to lock up the birds all winter, and possibly part of the summer. On a good note, Karin Llama, whom I could not find anywhere yesterday, came home and was muching hay with the cows today. Hurray! All are accounted for and it is time to think about winding down for a long winter's sleep. Zzzzz.
This must have been the owl that was here in the winter, now back from his summer haunt and back at the Fat Ewe Farm to dine. That he showed absolutely no fear of me was uncanny. He watched me the rest of the day. The ravens, frantic with the invader in "their" territory flew at him, but not too close. He remained as he was, steadfast atop the post, watching me. In the winter he took about a dozen ducks, always a duck, usually a big drake, and ate the crop and neck, then left the rest. I had to research the critters that ate this way. The owl was top of the list and likely the only one, being a sky predator, that could easily escape the watchful eyes of the dogs. Most of the farm birds do fly, so an owl would not be something they would pay attention to.
I looked up the symbolic meaning of an owl visitor, since he seemed to be watching me, and although he was busy eating my duck at first, he did not try to return to her. Owls are purported to bring news of death or change. The death is usually of a close loved one. My mother comes to mind first, since she is hanging by a thread these days. But then I read more, and the death could be a drastic change in the way of one's life, or work too. Interesting, since the palm reader I saw in White Rock said I would be doing a new job, one that I have never done before, that I would absolutely love. Hmmmm.
So, I spent a good deal of time getting the birds into their respective pens and closing the doors. The way I discouraged the owl previously was not to let the birds out until 10 am, hoping that he will have fed long before that and not bother the farm. The plan worked and he gave up coming and then left for the summer. Back now, the birds will be on lockdown for a few days, then only let out after 10 am again and put to bed at dark. Hopefully the owl will not turn to the pot belly piglets or 3 remaining baby bunnies that I cannot catch, for his supper, but leave. He has a strong penchant for duck anyhow and has never taken a chicken. The chickens are locked up just in case.
Magical visitor or not, and beautiful as he is, he is not welcome here. I told him so in not so many words. I hope he gets the message, because I do not like to have to lock up the birds all winter, and possibly part of the summer. On a good note, Karin Llama, whom I could not find anywhere yesterday, came home and was muching hay with the cows today. Hurray! All are accounted for and it is time to think about winding down for a long winter's sleep. Zzzzz.
The post is not that far away actually. It is the electric wire post in the centre of the photo and the owl sat there all afternoon into the dark.
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