The crows were making a loud ruckus in the backyard the other day. At first we couldn’t see what all the noise was about, but eventually we spotted a Great Horned Owl hidden in the neighbor’s tree. There were 20 or so crows making an unruly fuss, as the owl pretended to sleep. Eventually the noise attracted a Red-Shouldered Hawk, who burst in and scattered the crows, then hopped back and forth on the branches above the owl, screaming all the while. The crows took seats in the upper branches, watching. After a while another Red-Shouldered Hawk came in and chased the first hawk away, then began screaming at the owl anew. The owl kept one eye open, but didn’t respond. To add to the indignity, a squirrel crept right up to the owl’s face for a close look.
We have occasionally seen owls being mobbed by other birds, and we wondered if that would go on all day. It does. The hawks lost interest, but the crows kept at it until dusk. I like to think the long-suffering owl eventually looked up and said, “I am an owl. The night is mine.”
