Bird of the Week – Great Grey Owl
The largest, but not the heaviest, owl in North America is the Great Grey, an owl of the boreal forest.
Great Grey Owl
Even more than other owls, a Great Grey is mostly feathers. This particular bird is an educational bird some of you may recognize. Earl – that’s right, Earl Grey – lives with WC and Mrs. WC. You mean you don’t have mice thawing in your refrigerator?
At 27 inches tall, with the distinct “bow tie” around the neck, this is one of the easiest birds to identify if you are lucky enough to see one in the field. Or in a mew at WC’s house.
For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
Somehow I missed the bird posts’ lately, but I sure do enjoy them!! Thanks for a great picture and was to ID this neat bird. Off to explore the link!!
There’s no open thread (yet), so I’m putting this wonderful story about sustainable seafood here:
http://www.triplepundit.com/2014/03/every-fish-tale-power-story-matters-people-planet/
“The best fish story I ever heard was from Dune Lankard, a native Athabaskan fisher, who shared the tale of the salmon that those of us gathered in his home that evening were about to eat. His people, the Eyaks, have lived in the Copper River Delta region of Alaska for 3,500 years. For much of that history (before industry exploitation and disease decimated the population) their culture, diet and spirituality all centered on salmon.
Lankard narrated the journey of the salmon — starting with its birth in the rich, silty river, following its trek out to sea and then, years later, its heroic return upstream, fighting currents to fulfill its destiny. He said we were privileged to eat this fish, which had been taken at the peak of its energy — immersed in the struggle to reproduce and give its life to the future survival of its species. Instead, its energy would feed us. For that, we owed our thanks.
I’ve never eaten a meal with as much reverence as I did that night. That fish story connected me to riverbanks, pristine waters, and something bigger than my appetite or myself. I’ve not eaten a fish since without thinking about its journey.”
The owl listens. It’s hearing is more acute than its sight.
If you wish to live, be a silent vole.
“The owl is a messenger. It means someone is gonna die.” Oh please,please let that someone be a hateful,hurtful wingnut. Please,please,please!
In the 1970s, when living in SoHo lofts was still a new phenomenon, I knew a couple whose rafters were occupied by a barn owl. Earl Grey is far more photogenic, and that’s a terrific shot. No, I have no mice defrosting in the fridge. I do have sprouted chickpeas waiting to be made into live hummus.
I had to look up sprouted chickpea hummus. This is new to me, and I am going to try it this weekend, it looks delicious. thanks for mentioning it, I have never heard of it before. I have two heads of celery that came in my veggie box this week, and have been wondering how to use that up. This will be a great take-to-work treat.
Earl Grey can hunt mice at my house anytime.