>A couple of weekends ago, Mark Houston was owling alone in the Loup Loup
>pass area of Okanogan county. The Barred Owls responded in the distance to
>his calling. The next thing he knew, one of them made a frontal attack on
>his face causing several severe lacerations above and below his eyes. He
>returned to his truck Fortunately his eyes were spared but he now has some
>nice scabs to show for his adventure.
>
>Great Horneds are quite famous for this stunt, but has anyone ever heard of
>this type of reaction from Barreds?

Not from Barreds but a woman here in P.G. had a Saw-Whet attack her hand which was
hanging outside the car window holding a playing tape of a Saw-whet. Luckily the owl
just brushed her hand. I'm sure it would have put the talons out if it thought it was a
real owl. And of course, there is the case of Eric Hoskings the late British
ornithologist who lost an eye to a Tawny Owl. Note these animals are doing what comes
naturally: protecting their turf from intruders, so we are being naive if we think this
is out of place behaviour (same for otters, by the way).

- Jack

-------------------------
*Jack Bowling *
*Prince George, BC *
*jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca *
------------------------