Drove out to the country to see the Snowy Owl at an event today since they are not very common here.
Something else caught my eye though and I kept telling myself that it couldn't be what it looked like. But it was!
It must have not been advertised cuz most people wouldn't know what it was, but it was an Australian Boobook named Fable!
So when I saw they were letting people hold him for a donation, in couldn't say no!
More pics to come, they had a lot of great birds I didn't rxpect. I'll try to get the photos for tomorrow, but this was exciting so I shared it now before I head back home.
He was in a pretty good mood for an owl. From all I was overhearing, I think all the birds here were bred in captivity and raised for educational purposes, so they are more used to people.
I was originally talking to the lady handler and the owl seemed to cooperate with her a little more than with the guy working with him when. I got to hold it.
I'd say he was a tad camera shy, but overall in a good mood, though it seemed he was being handled more than expected today, and as I was one of the last to hold him, he seemed a bit done with all the back and forth between people's gloves. To me it was a bit of a bonus though, as he gave a bit of resistance to leave me and I got to feel a bit of his grip. While far from what I imagine he can do (especially if I were to be a mouse and not a gloves hand) it was a pretty firm grab considering its size and mass.
It felt a bit heavier than the Screech Owl I held last year, and was a little more grumpy seeming, but again, just a healthy amount of grumpy. It didn't seem to want to be anywhere else.
Great question. That would have been a good question to ask where he was born. I was so surprised to see one that I got all distracted from being my typical snoopy self.
The Snowy lived up to all the hype! I drove 2 hours there to see just him, and if he had been the only bird there, it would have been worth it.
Huge personality, he seemed to enjoy being outside and seeing the people and the other birds. He was calm the entire time. He did a lot of vocalization and made many great expressions. All the great stuff you see in photos, I got to enjoy in person. Totally worth it.
He did get a bit overshadowed by the Boobook, only since that was totally out of nowhere. I knew I would have to travel somewhere to see a Snowy, but a boobook is the total opposite side of the Earth so I thought I'd never see one, let alone hold one.
But anyone who puts the Snowy as their absolute favorite owl of all time, I totally get it. Absolutely awesome bird!