Also, there were owls

[mer]

I came home late from a dinner party last night. As I was getting out of the car, I heard a strange noise, but couldn't pinpoint what it was over the rustling of my coat and the slamming of the car door. Soccer hooligans? In the suburbs of Michigan? At 12:50 AM? In January?

I decided to crunch over the ice-snow ridges on the driveway to get the mail. The noise came again, and stopped me in my tracks: an owl, hooting. And then, louder, lower, and further away, an answering hoot.

And again.

And again.

And again.

Silence. I got the mail. Paused, shivering at the garage door, heard the call and answer one more time, marveling at the unexpectedness. I couldn't decide if there really were neighborly owls, or if there'd been a prison break and the escapees were using owl calls as code. Regardless, I couldn't stand the cold any longer, and went inside.

Tonight, I did a little googling. Apparently, owls mate in January and February. This is prime owl courtship time. I never knew! I don't hang around outside much on January and February nights, because it's, you know, freaking cold. And the noises don't come through the windows at our house, I guess.

Anyway. Snow, stars and owl-love. Happy New Year, everyone.

Comments

[captainblack.livejournal.com]

Owls are adorable.

[redmomoko.livejournal.com]

I love owls!

[faerie-writer.livejournal.com]

I couldn't decide if there really were neighborly owls, or if there'd been a prison break and the escapees were using owl calls as code.

*snorts*

[melindadansky.livejournal.com]

Wow! We were just talking about how we never hear owls at the family farm anymore. Now I wonder if it has something to do with the new insulated windows.