Tuesday, June 14, 2011

exoTic Tuesday

Yesterday Dan barked at the ditch bank for four hours straight.  Curiosity is not a talent of mine so I never went to see exactly what he was barking at, just called out through the open window every hour or so, “Hey Dan.  What’s bugging you?”  

Curiosity is a talent of Calvin’s so the minute he came home he went to see why Dan was so excited.  Then he called out, “Hey Jane!  I found it.  Come see.”  He wouldn’t tell me what it was, but did say I’d want the camera.

This.  This is what had Dan and Calvin so excited.


A baby owl had fallen from the tree and couldn’t get enough air under him to get back up into it. 

And if you think that shot is a close-up.  Look at this one:


And if you think we were awful close to the owl in that shot, then look at these two:



Our very own Hedwig. 


His eyes were like marbles, or egg yolks, or puddles of yellow paint, or vats of lemon pudding.  And those big eyes stayed open for a very long time, but when he finally blinked he could either close both eyes together or just one and then the other – in rapid succession like playing staccatos on a keyboard, first with your left hand then with your right, then back to your left.  


Even though he is huge, you can see he still has lots of down and is too immature to fly.  (Can you see the two little sprigs where his "horns" are starting to grow?)


There was no way he was going to get enough momentum to get back up in the tree to his parents with all that fluff, so Calvin personally delivered him.  (Did you know Calvin's dad was a postman?)


It was incredible.  Good thing I live with Calvin, because . . . “When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.”  ~Walt Disney    


p.s.  And a Happy Flag Day to you.  Can you find our flag in one of the pictures?   


13 comments:

Tiffany Fackrell said...

wow those are some awesome pictures and some incredible yellow eyes. I am glad you live with calvin so that he could rescue that poor owl...i wouldn't have touched it, haha! and you better believe i scrolled through your photos looking for that flag...good thing i found it and it didn't take me too long because it would have driven me BONKERS!

Derek-Jenny-Kaitlynd-Ethan-Dylan said...

Curious is not a talent of mine either. It drives me nuts-o sometimes.

Love this unique post! I am so glad that Calvin knows you well enough to tell you to grab your camera. You two make me smile!

Ande said...

WOW!! I wish I was there! I bet Dad just loved that!

Becky said...

That is amazing!!

The eyes were definitely like marbles.

And, unlike Tiffany, I did not find the flag right away and it almost drove me bonkers :)

Happy Flag Day!

Marie said...

How neat! I've seen owls in zoos and preserves, but never right in my own yard.

I loved the one of Calvin putting him back in his tree. It has a great feeling in it.

Jill said...

How exciting!

Carolyn said...

You referred to Hedwig on your blog! You are seriously my favorite person now. Those were awesome pictures. Good work saving the owl, Calvin!

Annnnd, I found the flag!!

Kelsey and Jon Edwards said...

I want my own personal Hedwig! How fun.

Anonymous said...

That is awesome! There used to be an owl in one of our trees out front and every time I would come late at night it would swoop out and scare me because they are so BIG! I am glad that Calvin is curious and you were able to see it!

Barb said...

Your owls remind me: We are having a ward temple day and I am helping watch the primary kids. One thing we are doing is walking from the civic centre to the temple for pictures and while we are there I'm going to share this story:
The Cardston Temple president, some time ago, was concerned about the birds that had been spoiling the surface of the Temple with their droppings. He and his councilors prayed in the temple about it and soon after the owls appeared. All of the other birds that had been making a mess of the Temple were afraid of the owls and left. They continue to stay watch at the top of the temple.

Lyle and Mary: said...

Wow those pictures are amazing. Birds of a feather hang out together. Do you feel much wiser now?

melanie said...

This is Nathan's favorite post ever! He clicked on each photo, studied them, commented and went back for a second look. He studied owls this year and wouldn't you know, he know a lot of facts. He loves your 'pet' owl, and especially when you called him Hedwig.

I'm curious and afraid all at once so I probably wouldn't have investigated either. Who knows what else you could've found!

michelle said...

That's a baby?! Wow!! We had an owl in our tree once but it was much, much smaller than that one.

Such amazing photos – I am glad that Calvin investigated and that you brought your camera!

(Eva was thrilled as well.)