Tina and Bob learn all about Snowy Owls. If you are a Harry Potter fan you should listen to this episode!
Our sources for this episode include:
Snowy Owls are Real in Harry Potter
Step outside and stay awhile
Step outside and stay awhile
Tina and Bob learn all about Snowy Owls. If you are a Harry Potter fan you should listen to this episode!
Our sources for this episode include:
I enjoy all of your shows, but especially this one because it brought to mind a snowy winter day in Ohio when I was about 16 (which would have been 1966 or 67. I was riding a horse through some woods in Clermont County and stopped at the edge of a clearing to admire the scenery. As I looked around, I saw a beautiful, impressively large white bird perched on a bare tree limb. It was looking back at me, perhaps puzzled by the strange two-headed creature. It had allowed my horse and I to get quite close, and I had a good look at it for a couple of minutes before it took flight, sailing silently across a snow-covered field.
The next morning at school, I excitedly described what I had seen to my biology teacher, hoping he would tell me what kind of bird it was. But, he would only say, “Go to the Cincinnati Natural History museum, and you’ll find out.”
A few days later, my father drove me to the museum and I walked around for a bit before stopping suddenly in front of a display. There, I saw a stuffed bird that looked exactly like ‘my’ bird. The label next to it read, “Snowy Owl,” and noted that only one or two had so far been reported in the area. (That was before everyone had bird ID apps and cameras phones in their pockets.) I got goose bumps as I realized that I had seen something very special.
Later in life, I took up birding as a hobby, and I have enjoyed seeing many new birds. But, spending two minutes with that amazing Snowy Owl remains my favorite wildlife encounter. Coincidentally, as I was writing this, I heard an owl call from my backyard. It was a Great Horned Owl, but for a second it seemed that the Snow Owl had come to join the conversation. A real hoot!
What an amazing story! Thanks for taking the time to share it. I love the image of you on horseback seeing the snowy owl.
Great pod cast Bob. Becky and I really enjoyed it and learned a lot about Snowy Owls. We saw one while cross country skiing in Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes. BEAUTIFUL BIRD!!! Thanks for the interesting pod cast. We miss you and Beth at California Woods. Jim and Becky
Glad you got to see this bird Jim. Hope you and Becky are doing well.