Owls

As you all know, I am a very helpful puppy.  One of my jobs is to scare off the birds from the back porch so they don't do you-know-what all over the porch floor.  It's a very tough job.  In fact, my Dad decided I needed a little help.  So he went out and got a helper for me.  My very own owl. 

You see birds are supposed to be afraid of owls.  That's because they eat them.  I would be afraid of owls if they were going to eat me too.

In fact, I was a bit scared of this owl at first.  She's very big and not too friendly.  But I decided after awhile that she wasn't going to peck at me.  In fact, she's pretty quiet.  She usually does her job and I do mine.  Her name is Hedwig. 

  (Mom had to bribe me with a treat to sit this close to her.)

 

 

But yesterday something strange happened.  Mom and I were outside reading the newspaper.  The birds were everywhere.  There was a hummingbird flitting all around.  A bunch of wrens were chattering and screaming.  A Gila Woodpecker started pecking at the tree in the back.  The Gambol Quails were running back and forth along the back wall.  There were mourning doves were making nasty noises.  These birds weren't supposed to be in my back yard but they were being very scary.  Mom got up and made me go inside with her.  She was ascared!  I could tell.

 

Then she went out to scout around.  One of the wrens was getting very violent up by the roof of the porch.  And that's where she saw it.  Another owl.  

This one was a lot smaller than Hedwig. 

 

It looked like it was sleeping.  Then it woke up and gave Mom the EYE.  Not like the eye that I give Mom.  This was definitely an OWL EYE.

 



 
We went back inside.  I went on the internet and looked up the owl.  It looks like a Western Screech Owl.   They are related to the owl that Ron Weasley owned in Harry Potter.  Ron's owl was Pigwidgeon.  I know all this 'cuz I looked it up on this very educational website:  http://www.lauraerickson.com/page/owls-of-harry-potter/ .

Later on, when we went back out, everyone was gone - the Owl, and all the birds.  So what I don't get is this:  If Owls like Hedwig are supposed to scare away the birds, then why were there five times as many birds on the porch when Pigwidgeon was there then when he wasn't? 

Here's what I think.  I think someone hoodwinked Dad so he would buy Hedwig.  That's what I think.  I mean, I don't need help keeping the birds away.  I work hard at it!

See?  Do you see any birds in this picture?  I'm hard at work.

Please send your commendations of my work ethic to my Dad.  He thinks I shirk on the job.  (Just because I like to watch the birds instead of chase them.)

Anybody want to join the Audubon Society with me?

Love,  G