Monday, July 26, 2021

UNEXPECTED HELPER

 I want to thank everyone for your advice on my last post on how to keep Callie from eating rabbit truffles (also known as poop).  I was just about resigned to having to muzzle her those times when she is on her own. Then I got an unexpected helper.

A several posts ago I mentioned how the fireflies liked to flirt with my solar hummingbird mobile. It has become habit when I turn off the inside lights at night to spend a little time watching the action of the fireflies. They are still enamored with the blinking lights. I was enjoying the show when something made me stop smiling.

On the ground under a tree, something was staring back at me.  At first I thought it was a fairly large dog and I wondered how he had gotten inside my fence.  Then the "dog" flew over the top of my house. Yikes.

I mean it took off with an at least 6 foot wing span. I was stunned till I remember a visitor I had several years ago.  Seems I had just gone eye to eye with a Great Horned Owl once again. What made me think it was a dog was its size and the ear tufts they are famous for.

                  Photo from Wikipedia

These are purely awesome creatures. They stand around two feet tall and are fierce predators.  I did a quick search and found one of their favorite foods is rabbit.  He was evidently aware of my abundant supply and had come for dinner. 

Now I am not wishing that he slaughter those pooping bunnies but if he puts enough fear in them to make them move away to safer grounds---far from my property--- my truffle problem is over.  I can live with that. 

So once again, Nature has come to my rescue. 

Have you ever seen a Great Horned Owl?

55 comments :

  1. Yes, I have...during the day even...when I saw that owl, it was peeking over the stone wall. But during the day? Across the road, a nest. Maybe it was hunting food for it's brood.

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    1. Anni,
      I did see one in the daylight years ago. We were about 15 feet apart as I came around the corner of the house. They impress no matter what the time of day.

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  2. The trouble with predatory birds getting the rabbits is they don't always eat the whole rabbit. They like the brains and will drop the rest back in your yard. I've found three headless rabbits in the twenty years I've lived here and it's disturbing to see. The big owls are beautiful to see though.

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    1. Jean,
      Yikes, wasn't aware of their eating habits.At least I'll know what happened if I find headless rabbit bodies. Hope I find them before Callie:)

      Delete
  3. I hear them often around here in January. One year I hoo-hoo-hoooed back at one, and he hoo hooed back at me. I thought it was so funny I hooted back at him for quite a while. He was moving closer and closer, then, there was another hoot answering back. He/she was moving closer and closer toward me, too. I hooted a few more times and then my feet got cold from standing at the open front door in January, and I closed the door. I could still hear them hooting it up for quite a while. I hope one was a male and the other a female. They were sure looking for another owl to get acquainted with.

    During a different January, back in the days when my husband worked nights, he pulled the car in the driveway and saw what he thought was a really, really big cat sitting on our roof at the edge of the gutter. He got out of the car and started walking toward the house and that huge "cat" launched itself into the air and flew right over him, it had a very wide wingspan. He thought it was a cat because of those feathery tufts that look like ears.

    We always have them around here in January, but I don't hear them at other times of the year. We have a lot of screech owls during the rest of the year.

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    1. susie,
      How cool to have talked to one. Ever wonder what you were saying in Owl?
      I understand how your hubby felt when he saw the "cat" fly.

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  4. Ulp! I had no idea owls could get so large--I sure hope it scares those rabbits away to greener pastures! I think I'm going to have nightmares tonight from Misadventures of Widowhood's comment! (But your readers comments are one of the reasons I like your blog so much Patti) :^)

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    1. Doug,
      Yep, I am really hoping on relocation as preferable to annihilation. So glad you enjoy my commenters too. I sure do. They keep me going and I love them.

      Delete
  5. I had the good fortune to see a pair nesting in a tree once years ago. We have so many rabbits running around in the condo yards that I am surprised that there are not more predators lurking around at night. Chipmunks are cute for a while but right now they are an infestation. I have noticed a hawk stopping by on the line of trees behind my place.

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    1. Olga,
      Wow, how cool to see a pair. Hope those cute chipmunks decide the hawk is a sign to move on.

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  6. Being a big fan of owls, I'm delighted to read of your unexpected helper. It will be very interesting to see if you now have a reduction in bunny truffles.

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    1. Florence,
      I was pretty sure you have seen them since you provide owl housing. Wonder if the big ones would drive off the smaller ones?

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  7. Well, that should take care of your rabbit problem. That is a HUGE bird. I've never seen one in person, so to speak. :-)

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    1. Djan,
      They really are impressive and I hope they do the job. They range through out the US so you may get a chance.

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  8. I have seen one, they are huge! I only saw it out the window after my husband had gone outside at night to put the garbage in the outside can. When he turned around he was almost face to face with it. It was sitting on his boat just staring at him. You can imagine how much it scared him lol!

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    1. Martha,
      Yes I can imagine how it started your husband. I came suddenly upon one on the ground years ago just feet away from me and am pretty sure I didn't breathe for a while.

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  9. I have never seen one in the wild and can only imagine what a fright it would give me.

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    1. Fun60,
      If you do,just hold your ground. They don't seem to be very fearful as much as they startle us.

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  10. Yes, I have seen (and been impressed) with those HUGE birds. I was visiting my daughter and husband in Upstate NY. I had gone to bed early and, all of a sudden was called to get to the window fast. Sure enough ... it was a Great Horned Owl looking very regal and perched on top of their fence. I will never forget it.

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    1. Ginnie,
      At first you almost can't believe the size of the creatures. So glad you got to see one. They really are impressive.

      Delete
  11. What an interesting visitor to have in your yard on the ground. I've only seen them in the trees or flying when we lived in Grass Valley. It is nature's balance to the prolific bunny population.

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    1. robin,
      Well he made an impression with me for sure. Just hope he impresses the bunnies enough to seek another yard to poop in.

      Delete
  12. I have never seen these owls but like me, they may scare the other critters away. Hope it works out positively for all.

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    1. Margaret,
      Hope you get to see one sometime. It is an event they are so large. I have hope he will scare the bunnies away.

      Delete
  13. No, I have never seen an owl. They don't live in Hawaii. But, as you say, nature does it again. Hope this solves your problem with the rabbit poop.

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    1. gigi,
      Sorry you don't have any. They are cool creatures.

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  14. Only on TV. What a solution.

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    1. Mage,
      Didn't ask for him but there he was. Hope it works.

      Delete
  15. Anni, I've never seen a Great Horned Owl, but have seen a Barred Owl behind our house in the trees. And I love reading the comments too... the one about the headless rabbit made me wonder. We found just the head of a feral kitten in our driveway not too long ago. Thought it probably was a coyote that got it... but maybe an owl??

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    1. Rian,
      That poor kitten does sound like it might have been an owl victim. So sorry about that.

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  16. I've seen one but probably only in a zoo or wildlife preserve. I did see a barred owl out in nature and was scared since they've been known to attack people. And it was staring at me!

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    1. Margaret,
      Yikes on the people attack. They really can stare can't they? I locked eyes with this fellow.

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  17. Oregon has a LOT of owls and they fly SO quietly. This guy looks scary. Some of the others are smaller and cuter. The boys love to dissect the owl pellets to see what they've eaten.

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    1. Awkward Widow,
      I read something about that and it is amazing what they find in the pellets.

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  18. We have lots of barred owls here. I used to see one sitting in the same tall tree in the woods very often, but that was long ago. I hear them when I'm up early in the morning and go outside before dawn. I love hearing owls hoot.

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    1. Donna,
      I hear them too here and never knew before just what it was I was hearing. I understand if you hoot back, they will answer you. Might be fun.

      Delete
  19. I have not seen this type of owl before, but we did have owls at the farm when I was a child. They weren't after rabbits but rather the chickens my mother raised for a couple of years. One time my mom went out with the rifle and fired off a shot at an owl. My uncle says she didn't kill it, but it flew off and died laughing. The chickens were butchered that fall and we never had them again. :)

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    1. Eileen,
      Not good when they get your stock. However, that is funny what your uncle said about your Mom's shooting.

      Delete
  20. I absolutely love owls but I have never seen a Great Horned Owl. I had to slam on the brakes one evening to prevent an owl from bouncing off my windshield. It flew up into a tree. I rolled down my window to look at it better and it swiveled its head to turn and look at me with complete disdain. I was thrilled.

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    1. Sue,
      Glad you and the owl survived. Lucky you though to have gotten to see the head swivel. Heard about it but never seen it.

      Delete
  21. Predictors keep nature balanced. That owl is a thing of beauty and perhaps a great fix for the pooping rabbit problem.

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    1. Linda,
      Probably won't cure it but maybe the bird can limit the truffles to snacks instead of meals.

      Delete
  22. He's a beautiful bird and maybe he will bring friends to share the bounty. Win-win.

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    1. River,
      Oh, hadn't thought that he might have a spouse. That would really be cool.

      Delete
  23. I've never seen a great horned owl, but clearly you need to get a few more to take care of the rabbits.

    I recall visiting relatives one Thanksgiving when I was young. We tracked rabbits in the snow, adults shot some, cleaned them and my Aunt cooked them. First rabbit I ever ate. I liked it so much I wanted more for breakfast the next day. So, get your rifle out, hone your skills, and have a little wild rabbit meat.

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    1. Joared,
      Thought about it but I am such a weenie about killing things, just couldn't do it.

      Delete
  24. Dear Patti, I've never seen a Great Horned Owl--the truth is, I don't think I've ever seen any owl except in photographs. My real-life education is sorely lacking. Peace.

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    1. Dee,
      They really are facinating creatures. Hope you get see one.

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  25. Two feet tall???? Seriously? Wow! I've definitely never seen one, but I'm sure I'd be freaked out if I did. I imagine it would freak out all the rabbits although that might make them leave more truffles.

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    1. Kay,
      The first time I came face to face with one it did freak me out. They are so big.
      Hope for a decrease in truffles.

      Delete
  26. I would not have liked a visit from him when I was raising chickens but I know he will do a great job keeping the rabbits away. All Owls are amazing creatures and you are blessed to have the protection of this one.

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    1. Annie,
      Oh yes, you would not want them around chickens. I worry a bit for my neighbor raises chickens but he has not noticed him over there. Hopefully my rabbits can keep him occupied.

      Delete
  27. Never seen a Great Horned Owl, would be very excited if I did, I am a bit of a birder.

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  28. I love owls but have only seen them twice in my life - once in AZ and possibly once on my back deck. The one I saw fleetingly on the rail of the deck took off and had an enormous wingspan and the markings of an owl. However,it was early morning,not quite light, and happened so fast it surprised me witless. I hope you have a resident owl though be careful with Callie because i think the big owls can also lift small dogs.

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  29. My sister's property backs up to a green space and she has all kinds of visitors from the wild. I suggested she put up an owl box and encourage it to keep her garden free of bests but she said another type of bird starting scooping down and handling the problem. Life is a vicious circle.

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