I saw a Great Horned Owl last night

[Aerows]

It actually nearly scared me to death because I didn't expect it to be so close. HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO! I jumped.

It was hooting it's little heart out. Gorgeous bird. I could see it's beautiful wise yellow eyes. I'm not sure who jumped more when it hooted that loud, me or it for not noticing me.

[fadedrose]

1. Where?

Under what circumstances did you see it?

My dad, long deceased, said he climbed a tree when he was young and it just happened that he sat next to an owl. They looked at each other, as just like you siad, it "scared him to death," and he ran like hell. That would have been before 1920 (he was born in 1900).

Owls are big in Native American culture but I forget how and why....

[Aerows]

2. It was on the fence

I didn't notice it until it hooted in a low note. I was taking out the trash to the trash can, and it scared the crap out of me!

[okasha]

3. They are a warning

of impending death. A person who "hears the owl call his name" will die. The motif was used in the novel "I Heard the Owl Call My Name" and in the film "Thunderheart"to foreshadow the teacher's death.

[Aerows]

6. Oh, well that's uplifting

Thanks for that.

[okasha]

7. Sorry.

If it helps, there's nesting pair right across the street from me, and the neighbors are alive and well.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. A long time ago I saved a wounded (shot) Barred Owl by putting it in my closet...

After it recovered from shock and a veterinarian removed some bird-shot from its wing, it began eating. Then, the animal nearly hooted down the apartment complex. The next day I found a raptor recovery project and gave them the bird.[finger <DS 4 snsmfopmomh yjr tpkrvy]

[Aerows]

5. This one was a Great Horned Owl

But I'd imagine all owls hoot that loud. It scared the heck out of me. I'll bet that one in your closet DID nearly hoot the apartment complex down. They make a parrot screech seem subdued in comparison.