Subject: [Tweeters] The owl and the butterfly
Date: Aug 26 16:02:10 2013
From: Rob Sandelin - nwnature1 at gmail.com


Today I had a Barred Owl perched on my back deck railing for the longest
time. I crept out onto the far end of the deck and sat and watched at close
range. The owl was pretty alert, scanning my back yard. At one point a
Cabbage white floated up and got the full attention of the owl. It was
humorous the way the owls head bobbed and turned as it watched the
butterfly. As the butterfly flew down low into the yard the owl took off and
I thought it was in pursuit, but the big bird pulled onto a low branch to
better watch the insect. It followed it around the cornet of some brush so I
changed positions and the owl continued to keep the bug in view but
apparently not trying to catch it. Then to my excited delight the owl flew
back to it railside perch, maybe 3 feet from where I was standing. The bird
very clearly took a long look at me, then turned and went back to watching
the backyard. I had this urge to slowly reach out and pet the owl, which I
kept under control. The owl suddenly focused, its whole body aligning with
its head and it swooped down and came up with a rat! Yes.....! The owl
flew off into the trees to eat its lunch and I mentally invited back anytime
for all the rats it can eat.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, Teacher
Snohomish County