As I was walking I came across this colorful Owl in a shop window. October and Owls. They kind of go together don't they? We often see owls used in Halloween decorations.
I was wondering about that Owl and Halloween connection as I continued walking along. Of course owls are mostly creatures of the night and then there is that little spooky Whooo they call in the dark.
When I arrived home I decided to look the connection up. I didn't find anything specific to the holiday but I did find this which I thought interesting
Quote from Live Science
No one is neutral about owls.
Historically, some cultures have vilified these feathered predators, and some have revered them, making these birds a physical manifestation of what people fear or admire. Silent and hidden by shadow, owls are seen as bad omens or harbingers of death across parts of Africa, the Middle East and among some Native American tribes. But they are also figures of wisdom among most European cultures. The birds are a holy symbol for Hindus, gods for the Ainu peoples of Japan and sacred creatures for the Hopi tribe of the American Southwest.
What do you think? Spooky? Just another interesting bird? Have you seen them in person?
What do you think? Spooky? Just another interesting bird? Have you seen them in person?
I have seen a few owls in person and would LOVE to see more. I think they are fascinating and whenever I post a photo of one I get many positive responses.
ReplyDeleteWe have owls around here, and it's not uncommon to hear them. Seeing them is a rarer treat. I know some people who collect figures/pictures of them. There are a growing number of decorative owls out there. The one you pictured in your post is cheerful :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school, my next door neighbor found a baby owl the summer between our freshman and sophomore years. He nurtured it and raised it for over a month. Then along came a crow. A BIG crow. But a crow that had been hurt or hit by a car. No one is quite sure how, but the crow's wing was damaged. Since they are supposed to be enemies, or so I was told, my friend nurtured both and kept them together. The owl and the crow became companions and never left each others' site. The local newspaper even sent a reporter and photographer out to take photos and write an article on it. I was lucky enough to be there when the photos were taken. It was a fun time and I'll never forget the owl and the crow that lived together until they eventually flew away one spring day the next year.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, I've never seen an owl again. What fun you found on your walk today.
BTW, your new blog is showing up on my left sidebar, which makes me very happy.
That should have read "side" not "site". I have no idea how I missed that, but I can spell better than I can type.
ReplyDeleteI guess owls are a bit spooky the way they fly round silently at night, and that might be why they have been associated with Halloween and ghosts.
ReplyDeleteI love owls, other than their habit of eating small pets if they get left out at night... we have three kinds in this area - including the incredibly cute pygmy owl- and hear them a lot at night, calling each other. I frequently have conversations with them.. yes, the neighbors think I'm nuts! We see them sitting on the power poles at dusk, gazing at the hay fields.
ReplyDeleteIn California, they were around but not common. One lived in palm tree (in the 'skirt' of dead fronds, I think) and would fly along at head level at dusk, startling people. One night I went out to feed the dog after dark, and as I walked by the shed one let out a loud "Whoo!" about three feet away from me. His 'Whoo!" almost became "Poo!" for me!
The ceramic owl is very appealing to me, Darla, colourful and stylish. Because they are night birds, I don't often see them, but occasionally one or two owls perch in one of our trees. If you look carefully you can see them in the daytime and I have managed to photograph them. I don't find them spooky, but they are 'different'.
ReplyDeleteI've always been fascinated by owls .. we have one here that we often listen to at night and are once i a while blessed with a glimpse of him. Love the one in the photo ♥
ReplyDeleteI love owls. I do not collect them, but my annual Christmas ornament to my granddaughter often involves owls. Don't ask me why.
ReplyDeleteLove owls, yes I have seen a real one, but the fella in the window is so much more colorful. I have three small owl pots sitting on Betsy and have to keep myself from buying more.....LOL
ReplyDeleteCatching up with your new blog now....Other than in zoos, I have not seen an owl in the wild. From afar they are beautiful birds, but up close they scare me!
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