As for me, I was interested in the species ID. It looks like an eagle Owl ("Uhu" in German). They are only found in remote areas; at least that's what I always thought; such as along the Bavarian Alps. If I remember correctly, that stretch of Autobahn has extensive lowland forests on both sides of the highway (Pforzheim area). I once noted a Black Woodpecker (related to our Pileated) flying across in front of our car along there. Oops! I just checked a map. The woodpecker was farther north. Anyway, Pforzheim is, broadly speaking, in the Black Forest region.

Phil Hotlen
Bellingham, WA
----------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "J. Acker" <owler at sounddsl.com>
To: "travel girl" <travelgirl.fics at gmail.com>
Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 4:25:31 PM
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] Drunken Owl Picked Up by Police




To me, an example of sensationalized ?news?.



The photo shows an owl that appears to be cross-eyed (with no comment). It is possible that it is focused on something very close (camera perhaps?), certainly something beyond the capacity of what drunkenness brings about. (I was a sailor once?)



The ?facts? are that the bird was found alongside a road, ?oblivious to traffic?, but ?didn?t appear to be injured?, and two little Schnapps bottles were in the immediate vicinity. The bird was ?not staggering around?. It had a ?drooping eyelid?, also an indication of head trauma.



I think the bottles in the vicinity were coincidence, and led to an incorrect diagnosis by someone not qualified to make an assessment ( a police officer). One does not go cross-eyed after a hard night on the town. The bird was hit by a vehicle and suffered head injury. Even if there was Schnapps still in the bottles, how does one propose by what method that the bird was able to drink the fluid? Why would an owl drink Schnapps?



Why are we discussing this?



J. Acker

Bainbridge Island, WA

Owler at sounddsl.com



A voice unspoken (or unwritten) is a voice unheard.

Be heard!




From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu [mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of travel girl
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 8:51 AM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Drunken Owl Picked Up by Police



http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,740157,00.html
Nothing quite like morning smiles...

00 caren
http://www.ParkGallery.org
george davis creek, north fork
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