Blog: The Owl Chronicles Part Two

Blogger's note: Photos have two great virtues. First, a picture is worth a thousand words. Second, photos do not lie. Seeing is believing. Our story now continues. (.)

Once the fence was up around the eight-acre owl preserve, things seemed to quiet down. But then suddenly two sightings happened almost simultaneously! The pictures tell the story (See Photo #1).

The first sighting occurred when an owl showed up at the entrance to Tommy Bates’s sport complex and for several minutes looked longingly through the fence, almost certainly pining away for its lost habitat (Photo #2). It then hopped over to the heavily locked gate, but clearly could not figure out a way in, and eventually hopped off toward Cesar Chavez Park, or possibly the Hanna of Japan Restaurant near the Berkeley Marina. It was hard to tell which.

The second sighting occurred at Memorial Park. To set the stage here, the Albany Arts Council had commissioned a public art sculpture in the form of covered with grass and an inscription stating "BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD." When this art was opened to the public, the grassy question mark so appealed to those rascally Albany kids (perhaps also inspired by the above message) that they ran up and down it, wearing all the grass off the top. 

Photo #3: The second sighting occurred when a burrowing owl (no doubt disenchanted upon viewing the plastic bunkers intended for its home at the Plateau) landed on the now bare earth question mark, and appeared to be evaluating this site as an alternative home in the City of Albany—and contemplating where the burrowing should begin. A local birdwatcher is seen viewing this occurrence.

Photo #4: Shortly thereafter the grass around the earthen sculpture was allowed to grow long perhaps with the idea of a “comb over.” (See Hair Club For Men)

Photo #5: Burrowing Owls like short grass, and with (no doubt) some help from Albany bird lovers, they launched a demonstration against the long grass.

Again there was a lull in owl related activity, but one further event of note eventually did occur (Photo #6). A local bird lover (name withheld for numerous critical reasons) was arrested for attempted trespass of the owl habitat area on the plateau, while carrying a stuffed owl. Under intense interrogation at Albany Police Headquarters she came clean and admitted that she was trying to help attract real burrowing owls by salting the habitat with stuffed ones (like they do with the duck decoys). She was eventually released with a stern warning not to try this again and, in conclusion, you will be happy to learn that her stuffed owl (which had been confiscated as evidence) was returned to her. END OWL CHRONICLES