Owl People

       Once while I was hiking alone on a trail, I stopped to pitch my tent at dusk. As I was trying to push the tent stakes into the solid ground, an owl swooped down from a tall pine tree, and landed only two feet from where I was kneeling. The owl snatched up a mouse (which I hadn't even noticed) and flew away in a split second. There wasn't even a sound, just the wind on my face from the owl's wings.

      
       That was my only up close owl experience. But I have friends who are owl people, who have rescued owls, held them in their hands, fed them, and continue to visit with them from time to time. Sherry Garbarini is one of my owl friends, who helped raise an owl named Sushi several years ago. To this day, Sushi comes to visit her in her backyard, often times perching on a patio chair, turning its head as if to say hello. Sherry's friend, Ellen Ensley, used to work at an animal rehab facility in Yulee, FL, where she came to love owls. She and Sherry have shared in Sushi's upbringing, and that has bonded their friendship for life.
       Ellen is a contributor to Owl Pages, an web site that tells you everything you wanted to know about owls. Ellen tells a story about how Sushi once flew down to her on her deck, talons bared, in an apparent attack. Ellen tries to defend herself, broken hearted that Sushi has turned on her. But just seconds later, a large tree branch falls onto the deck, right where Ellen had been standing. This is an excerpt from her story.

       "As I whirled around, I saw a giant limb had fallen from the huge old dead oak tree that towered above the grill on the other side of the deck. This monster limb had crushed the top of the grill, splintered the deck railing, and smashed the Mexican stone fireplace into a million pieces. The limb was so big, it covered half of the deck on which I stood. It probably would have killed me if it fell on me. But, it didn't fall on me. Sushi had deliberately, and repeatedly attacked me to drive me away from that side of the deck. Birds will attack their mates to drive them away from danger. Sushi knew that limb was going to fall. The birds incredible hearing must have told him the limb was cracking. Sushi had been out by the deck all day. I never heard anything but the final loud snap before the limb hit the deck. I understood what Sushi had done. The owl kept me away from the grill and that side of the deck the only way he knew how. He drove me away from danger."

       There is much we can learn from our natural world, if we just take some time and listen. I have learned a lot from the owl people, but they have learned a lot more from the owl. To read more of Ellen's stories, visit: www.owlpages.com