dogs live here!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Hootie Update

We have determined that our Hootie is a gray morph Eastern Screech Owl. They are mostly nocturnal (but not always, as is obvious from our photos!). They eat small rodents, amphibians, reptiles and large bugs. Unfortunately, we also learned that they are prey to the larger Horned Owl, which we have also seen in our yard, albeit about a year ago.

Last night, we sat on our porch steps at twilight, and sure enough, Hootie popped his head out of the Owl House, perched on the opening looking around for about 10 minutes and then swooped off to do his (her?) night's hunting! It was very exciting to watch.

Ironically, the Austin American Statesman ran an article yesterday about a family of Screech Owls right here in Northwest Austin. You can check it out here: http://www.statesman.com/search/content/sports/stories/outdoors/04/26/0426owls.html

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Dogs Live Here by David Lester

Dogs Live Here
- by David Lester -

http://www.lilrr.org/dogs_live_here.htm

If you don't want to be greeted with paws and swinging tails,
Don't come inside, because dogs live here.

If you don't like the feel of a cold nose or a wet tongue,
Don't come inside, because dogs live here.

If you don't want to step over scattered toys,
Don't come inside, because dogs live here.

If you think a home ought to smell of perfume,
Don't come inside, because dogs live here.

But if you don't mind all of this,
You will be instantly loved when you do come inside,
Because dogs live here.

Intruder, Poltergeist or Canine?

You be the judge. What could possibly explain this arrangement of books on my staircase when I arrived home on Friday? This is the only thing out of place in the entire house, and all of my family swears they didn't touch the books. I am more than a little freaked out by this. Porter assures me it was the dogs. But you just let me know the last time a dog decided to take a few books off the shelf for an afternoon read!!?!! A stuffed animal, yes. Steak on the counter, yes. Book off the bookshelf, not so much. Spoooooooky.

"Hootie"

So, about a year ago, there was an article in the paper about how to build an owl house for your yard. Porter thought this was a fine idea and promptly built one for us. "If you build it, they will come...." Apparently so! Introducing Hootie! Our backyard owl. We've seen him about the yard before, but never IN the owl house. Today after church, Callie spotted Hootie in our tree. Now we are researching what kind of owl he is, and what we can do to enhance his habitat. COOL!