OK, so I'm watching the Life of Birds. My wife knows that I really enjoy
this show and I have requested that I get to have this one hour
uninterrupted. (I can get by the 200mph Peregrine, and all the other birds
that don't get fully identified. It is still a great program.) Tonight
though she interrupts me. "There's a noise in the living room." "What do
you mean there's a noise in the living room?" "A noise. You have to come
see what it is." Doesn't she understand the Life of Birds is on. I grumble.
I offer up various possibilities. These are voted down. "You have to come."
The voice is a bit more definite. This is not debatable. I get up. There
definitely is a noise in the living room. My wife positions herself behind
me. I turn on a light. In the living room, up against one of the large
windows is a very frustrated, very annoyed Screech Owl. Right in the middle
of The Live of Birds, I think. We quickly gather gloves, and soon the bird
is caught. It is a young bird but has most of its feathers fully formed. I
admire its beauty for a quick second and my wife gets her first close hand
look at a Screech Owl and we take it outside and let it go. I am impressed
once again when it flies off silently. Amazing adaptation. But right in the
middle of Life of Birds.

I am surprised to see the bird in the house. Well doubly surprised. But
even more so since I have never heard a Screech Owl, or any owl in the area
despite the trees. The Sammamish plateau has to have some owls left but
they have been quiet when I am around. But the way they are going all the
trees will be cut down up here and I won't have to worry about rescuing any
other owls.

I kept telling myself to release the bird quickly. It needed to gather its
senses. But it is such a rare treat to hold one of these in my hand. To
marvel at its structure and format. I used to work in natural science
museums and we had our permanent birds and the birds that were brought in
to take care of. Once upon a time I had a lot of contact. Now it is very
rare. It is gone and I am back at my computer. I won't think too much about
what its chances are. Getting inside of a house is not a good sign. But it
was my treat for the week.

Jim

Jim Rosso
Issaquah, Washington
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