MendoMoments: A Barn Owl in the Backyard

In the shifting light of early evening, my wife and I peered upward into our backyard redwood tree and caught a glimpse of a slumbering Barn Owl.

In folklore, the Barn Owl has been referred to as the Ghost Owl, and some call the bird the Death Owl. In Hinduism, the Barn Owl transports Lakshmi, the goddess of Wisdom. Tangiers myth tells of the Barn Owl being a clairvoyant of the Devil. Lady Macbeth said, “It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman which gives the sternest goodnight.”

Since moving into our Hopland home, we have heard the owl’s hoots after dark and found his owl pellets in the daylight littering the ground at the base of the redwood.

At first, we noticed a strange growth in the middle of the owl’s chest. Then, we realized that he was nestling his talon in his feathers while standing on one foot.

MendoFever’s newest column, MendoMoments, is dedicated to showcasing the land, animals, and people that make up Mendocino County. All Mendocino County residents and visitors are invited to participate. Send photographs to matthewplafever@gmail.com including a description of what your photograph depicts, where it was taken, and any other important details.

Earlier Chapters

• MendoMoments: Lost in the Maze of Brooktrails
• MendoMoments: Noyo Harbor’s Baby Ospreys Emerge
• MendoMoments: Memorial Day at Russian River Cemetery
• MendoMoments: Soaking Feet in a Cool Creek
• MendoMoments: The Super Flower Blood Moon Descends Behind Duncan Peak
• MendoMoments: A Little Library in the Hamlet of Hearst
• MendoMoments: Thunderheads Gather Above the Mayacama Mountains
• MendoMoments: Lake Mendocino Through the Lens of a Newcomer

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