Yesterday was a beautiful warm day. It was a nice break and reminder that spring will one day return. On my way to work in the morning, I have to pass a gate that requires me to input a code. That meant I had to roll down my window and in doing so I heard a group of Magpies chattering.
What a beautiful sight! A frost covered birch tree with 10 Magpies. It looked like a Christmas card. Guess I'll have to find time to paint that one. That's the only problem with life, it interferes with the painting of it.
Showing posts with label poster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poster. Show all posts
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Great Grey Owl
The Great Grey Owl is an amazing bird. They look huge but are mostly feathers. Their call is a very deep "whoo" and if you have one in your neighborhood, you won't get much sleep because they can and often do call all night.
When we lived in a Provincial Park, we had one across the road from us and I'm not sure what was more annoying, the non-stop "who, who, whooo" or the dog that barked all night, but sleep was hard to come by there.
After listening to it for a few days I kept watch and discovered it was a Great Grey Owl. The best time to see it was right at dusk. Once it settled in a tree it seemed to stay put the rest of the night. I guess it perched there and listened but I always wondered why a bird that was such a silent hunter would call constantly. Surely the mice and other prey heard it and then knew to stay under cover. Wouldn't it have been a better hunter if it was quiet? Or maybe that was just my wishful thinking. It's hard to believe how big they are, you sense more than see this shadow overhead, because you never hear them.
After discovering what was keeping me awake most nights I drew a picture and entered it into an art show. I was in Manitoba and being it was their provincial bird was very honored to have a government representative purchase my picture for their permanent traveling art show.
Great Grey Owl, Bird, Birding, Wildlife, Garden by countrymousestudio
Make personalized beer mugs online at zazzle
When we lived in a Provincial Park, we had one across the road from us and I'm not sure what was more annoying, the non-stop "who, who, whooo" or the dog that barked all night, but sleep was hard to come by there.
After listening to it for a few days I kept watch and discovered it was a Great Grey Owl. The best time to see it was right at dusk. Once it settled in a tree it seemed to stay put the rest of the night. I guess it perched there and listened but I always wondered why a bird that was such a silent hunter would call constantly. Surely the mice and other prey heard it and then knew to stay under cover. Wouldn't it have been a better hunter if it was quiet? Or maybe that was just my wishful thinking. It's hard to believe how big they are, you sense more than see this shadow overhead, because you never hear them.
After discovering what was keeping me awake most nights I drew a picture and entered it into an art show. I was in Manitoba and being it was their provincial bird was very honored to have a government representative purchase my picture for their permanent traveling art show.
Great Grey Owl, Bird, Birding, Wildlife, Garden by countrymousestudio
Make personalized beer mugs online at zazzle
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