Southern Snow and a few Owl Odds and Ends

Its rare here in the south to get any accumulation of snow.  We usually only get a semi-decent amount once per winter, but this winter has been extraordinary for us. We've had several occasions of snow, but this past weekend we had a good amount, especially in the park.  Our house didn't see very much:

Looking out from the upper deck.

But the Park was just beautiful!

At TreeTop Nature Trail

Gazebo between Enclosure 5 & 6

This was taken on 2-13 of what I always call the "paddle boat lake".  The sun was out and the temperatures were climbing fast which made the snow melt even faster.

Looking into the woods at the Alabama Wildlife Center.

I was able to get some great shots of the birds at the feeder.

American Goldfinchs

This Eastern Phoebe was hanging out all day gleaning something off of the Sumac pods.  I finally got her while she was on a break.  One of my favorite baby birds.

Carolina Chickadee

Dark-eyed Junco

Lucky for the above birds, this gal was at TreeTop Nature Trail.

I had just finished feeding the raptors at TreeTop and headed to my car when I spotted this girl fly to a perch in this pine tree.  I zoomed in as faaaaaarrr as I could and steadied the camera as much as I could (it was cold and I was a bit shivery).  A Cooper's Hawk in adult plumage!

I have a few Owly goodies for ya.  I was on a hair accessory hunt to complete my ensamble for Wild About Chocolate and stopped in Forever 21.  Oh how many Owl accessories they had!!  Most of it was gold, which is not my thang, but they did have a few pieces in silver. 

I was going to get this necklace

But I could wear this one more easily (not being in the least fashionable to wear the prior)

and it was a bit cheaper .

Its a good thing the store didn't have this bag, because I woulda gotten it too and I really don't need it.

They didn't have this shirt in my size, thank goodness.  I'm really trying to save and pay off some stuff. Gosh its so hard!

There were a few other stores that had Owls in their accessories...Claires, Wet Seal so be on the lookout cause they're everywhere!

Not-quite-Owly Monday

So I've decided that today will actually be Birdy Monday.  In addition to my obsession of all things Owl, I also am very much obsessed with all things Birdy.  I submit to you some birdy goodness for this week!

(and also Barn Owl updates to get your owl fix in)

I just love Charlie Harper's artwork.  The humor, whimsy and personal interpretation of birds and wildlife just speaks to me.  I got this little book a few years ago and it sits on the living room coffee table for guests to enjoy.

And if you're in the market for a good birding field guide, I highly recommend the Sibley Field Guides.  I'm partial to the Eastern guide since, well, thats where I live.  The illustrations and variations in plumage are fantastic.

I was checking out Macy's after receiving an email and I found these Sconces. I hope I can talk Mr. Owl into these to replace the broken ones on the front porch.

 

Now its time for something completely different.

Well not COMPLETELY, but still.

The Barn Owl babies are doing soooooooo good! They are very angry anytime you pull their leftovers or feed them, which is PERFECT because that means I did my job correctly thus far.  They really look like Barn Owls now...almost all of their down is gone. And I'm still going with both of them being males.

This is the youngest...he's doing his "No, no's" (Read Wesley the Owl for a full discription)  Typical threatening Barn Owl behavior.  They shake there heads back and forth along the ground. 

They'll be going outside next week (when the weather is a bit warmer).  Soon they'll be flying around the flight cage and we'll be giving them live prey and they'll probably be release early February!

Barbed Wire Barn Owl is getting better and better.  The wound seems to be getting smaller and the tissue is coming in nicely.  And look at those pin feathers!

As almost everyone knows, its COOOOLLLDD! Like snow in Florida cold.  All they hype they were building for the snow we were supposed to get here in Alabama didn't amount to much. 

I hear its still pretty icy and snow is still on the ground in my home (and neighboring) state, Georgia

(GO DAWGS!).  So all my friends and family...be careful over there!

And hopefully I will get the motivation to start some sewing (with my fancy new bright Otte light!) and some organizing projects in the next few weeks.

I've been a busy Owl this week!

We had our annual Christmas decorating party and pot luck with the Volunteers at the Center.  A little disappointing in the turnout, but we still had a great time decorating and getting together outside of the animal care world. 

And to help us out, Mother Nature sent us some snow! Can you believe it?  Snow, in Alabama, in December!  It wasn't much, but definately helps in getting in the Christmas mood. 

It was a huge success! All the proceeds from the sale went directly to the Alabama Wildlife Center.

Thanks to everyone's donationed crafted and baked goods. 

A special thanks to all the hard working volunteers who came in to donate their time to pull off this annual event.  Your continued support means so much to the wild animals we care for (and to me)!

Now the final reason I've been busy this week.....I'm a MOM!

Well, sort of.  I'm currently the mother of 2 baby Barn Owls.

 

They were kidnapped from their parents from a Shooting stand in rural Alabama, kept for 3 days and fed chicken.  Thats your basic Raptor kidnapping story.  And people just don't realize how detrimental that is to these guys.  Birds of prey grow soooooo fast and a few days of raw chicken and being handfed by a human could mean death to the little one.  They MUST have a whole animal diet.  (not some raw greasey chicken that was probably injected with all kinds of hormones and such) And if they open their eyes for the first time and see a human constantly feeding it, they will imprinted on humans and not be releasable back to the wild.

And its a Federal offense.
So I've been getting up twice a night for the past week feeding these guys and taking them in to the Center with me and bringing them home with me.  The next 2 nights, I'm getting a break because they're at the

Owl-Sitter. 

This is all the mother I really ever want to be.  I don't see how people survive years of this!  This almost killed me last year when I had a hatchling to take care of.  These guys will soon be on whole mice (yes, I have to wake up at 12 am and 4am and cut up mice for them.  Its nature, and thats what they NEED to survive) and I'll be able to leave them at the Center overnight.

In spite of all the tiredness and cutting up mice in the middle of the night and worry, I'm so glad I have the priviledge to do this as my career.  I just can't imagine myself doing anything else.  I would be miserable.

I'm so glad to be doing something useful in this world and making a difference for wildlife.

Before seeing Babies first pellet!

Don't forget! Tomorrow is Owly Monday!