>Here's one for my territorial/fledgling defense list: friends in the
>Chicago suburb of Wheaton called last night to say they had been
>chased out of their back yard by what was likely a Screech Owl
>ranting and raving and diving at a male guest's head. I, of course,
>asked if he had a mousy personality. They claimed not.
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>Fred Bird

One of my biggest injuries from a bird--both to dignity and flesh--was from
an eastern screech-owl that whopped me one as I got out of my car at a
Florida motel many years ago. It scared me as much as hurt me when out of
the darkness came this major clout on my crown (or was it my nape?)! It
had the desired effect, as I raced between car and motel room several times
with some artifact held over my head. Subsequent jaeger and tern
clobberations never had quite the emotional effect of this early encounter.

Actually, Fred, screech-owls eat mostly worms. 'Nuff said.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416