There’s a film about him, too. The Electrical Life of Louis Wain with Benedict Cumberbatch - superb as always - in the title role.

while not addressing climate change or forest destruction,

Shifting the blame. As politicians are used to. It will not end with the owls. The real problems will get to humans as well.

Airplane ears

Mum and Dad Buffy Fish Owl know that Hornbills also go for non-fruit-meal options. But their baby is bigger than a happy meal, so that should be OK.

Thank you, Christopher! Keep digging.

That is true

I almost overlooked it too. But for some areas of the world it was still August 4, so I decided to look for something to share.

And there’s still an opportunity to visit her today! 😃

Critical Gaze sounds like a cool stage name. Let that Boobook drop some bars!

🎵 I’m sexy and I know it🎶

Off topic - whenever I see a comment of yours in this group there’s someone downvoting it for seemingly no reason. That’s not nice from this person.

In Germany the intensity and high temperatures are uncommon (and feel worse because humidity is higher) but we’ll have to get used to them and help out our local wildlife.

The good news about the barn owls: 7 chicks that jumped down were spotted by the owner who closed the doors. They informed a rehabber that collected the 3 youngest in the morning. The 4 older ones were able to climb and fled during the night. The 4 fugitives were apprehended over the day and joined their siblings. They seem to be doing well.

One thing I learned this summer is that barn owl chicks can also turn into “Hitzespringer” (heat jumpers) when their nest is in a position that lets their nest overheat during a heat wave. Like when its built directly underneath a badly insulated roof. So please check your barns etc.

I knew this phenomenon from swifts and swallows. And they were hit in the last few days when we reached temperatures of 40°C and above (104°F). It only makes sence that other chicks will also flee the nest before they get roasted.

🥰

Es gibt mmer jemanden, der aus der Reihe tanzen muss, tztztz.

German idiom - literally there’s always someone dancing out of the row

depending on context: someone dancing to their own drum / someone breaking the mold / stand out of the crowd

Why shouldn’t it think so? You’re soooo slow and obviously intimidated by it, it can just take the food from you without a fight. So it surely is the biggest and scariest predator in the house. /j

I understand that you don’t want it to associate humans with easy food (or worse: a potential partner). There’s been a story about a EEO in the Netherlands that started “attacking” humans. They later found out that at least for women it was his idea of courtship during mating season. He did a fly-by and if he found them suitable might try to land on his chosen partner’s head. Ouch!

Thank you. I expected them not to let go - if you’re landing high up you don’t want your hard-earned meal to fall down. But walking with food in your foot instead of using your beak - at first seems strange. It does make sense if they think of defending their food and themselves with their beak though. Maybe the next evolutionary step will be owls using their foot parrot style.

Bastard wings

More owl facts are always welcome :D

Landing gear is not fully retracted…

That pic reminds me that I haven’t really looked up close how owls land with one foot “occupied”. 🤔

Those are great pics and a good story! I’m happy for you that you could experience this (without being hurt by its cute, fluffy toesy woesies). Thank you for sharing!

They are indeed Tristan and Isolde. And the second pair is Lotte and Leo. They are also observed via camera by EGE but they are in a location that has a huge population of raccoons. In other years that hindered them to successfully raise chicks.