[mou] Backyard Great Gray Owl

[Laura Erickson]

A Great Gray Owl has been in my backyard all afternoon today.  It appears 
in rather bad shape--its eyes look small and its feathers seem out of sorts 
on one shoulder, but it's flying fine.  When it perched in a nearby tree, I 
couldn't help myself--I ran in and defrosted one of the frozen mice I keep 
on hand for my education Screech Owl, and brought it out.  I dragged the 
mouse with my kitchen tongs, allowing its tail to wiggle a bit, and then 
tossed it to the owl, who instantly dropped down and devoured it.  What an 
incredible Christmas gift for me!!


Laura Erickson
Duluth, MN


Producer, "For the Birds" radio program
<http://www.lauraerickson.com/>

There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of 
birds.  There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of 
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.

                                 --Rachel Carson