An Owl Escapade

As we looked around the tree, the two hazel eyes of a barn owl stared into our souls. It sent a thrill down my spine that I could experience wildlife so close to my house! This year, my dad took me owl watching in Menlo Park. Guided by Rick Morris, Menlo Park’s local birding guru, I had an amazing time searching for incredible creatures like the Barn Owl or the Burrowing Owl in my neighborhood.

My dad and I headed out at around 4:30 pm on a fall Saturday Evening and met Rick at a specified location in Menlo Park. Once we arrived, he told us a story about how he once saw a nest with two baby owls in a nearby tree. Rick also pointed out the tree in which the Great Horned owls nest every spring. I can’t even imagine how exciting it would be to see cute little baby Great Horned Owls! I made a mental note to visit this location in the spring when the babies hatch.

From there, we journeyed to an abandoned house in Redwood City. Rick taught us how to spot the telltale signs of an owl’s presence, like bird excrements under a tree, or the furballs the owls have coughed up. We scoured the entire neighborhood, searching for the signs of an owl. Finally, I discovered owl pellets under an oak tree. However, when I looked up, there wasn’t a single owl in sight! I was puzzled by this, until my dad, who was looking from a different angle, saw the bird. He called us over to where he was standing, and, much to my suprise, there it was nestled in the leaves, with its beautiful heart-shaped white head and brown feathers, a barn owl!

Next, Rick took us to a park in Palo Alto. I was initially confused why he had brought us to this park, but then, he gestured to us to follow him off the trail. Following after Rick, we arrived at a massive river of rocks. Beautiful as it was, I knew Rick hadn’t brought us here to check out the landscape. Sure enough, Rick pulled out his camera, and through the lens, showed us the real reason for our little escapade. There, hiding in a small pyramid-like rock formation, was the most adorable creature I have ever seen, a miniscule burrowing owl. In fact, the burrowing owl was so tiny that this picture is bigger than the actual owl!

As dusk approached, Rick took us to our final stop for the day. We journeyed into Redwood City, and set up our camera in front of a mangled old tree. Inside the tree was the entrance to a dark world, the nest of a screech owl. For an hour, we waited for the owl to emerge from its mysterious domain, but not once did it venture into our sight. We decided that we couldn’t win every battle, and were grateful for the owls we did see. Eventually, my dad and I decided to part ways with Rick, and head back home. 

I will never forget this owl-watching tour, an exciting and peaceful experience that left a lasting impression on me. As I sit here writing this blog, I can still hear a Great Horned Owl screeching near my house, reminding me of the amazing time I had owl watching. I want to share this memorable experience with my friends and family, and remind them of the amazing opportunities to connect with wildlife available in our own communities.