THE OWL
THAT CAME —
FOR DINNER /*

The crows, always noisy, were so rau-
‘cous and concentrated in a clump of trees
on Walsh Avenue last week that the neigh-
bours were compelled to investigate. To
their surprise as they gathered at the base
of the trees, an owl dropped to their feet.

It appeared to have a damaged wing, -
unable to fly. Carefully they approached
the bird and to their greater surprise it
allowed them to come close enough to touch
it and eventually pick it up.

‘Tt was a weekend and the answering
machines at the conservation office and
other wildlife organizations did not produce
results, so one of the neighbours took the —
owl home to look after. They wondered if it Dropped by for a little TV and sympathy.
was someone’s pet, it was so tame and :
friendly . a a

The owl sat at the table during dinner with his host and later, wisely and without comment, watched TV
with his new friend. And when his host retired for the night, the bird followed into the bedroom and perched.
on the bureau for the night for a friendly overnight sleepover. — | . es

On Monday the bird was turned over to the SPCA in Kitimat who examined it and sent it off for treatment ~
to Vancouver. They confirmed that it was a hawk owl. .- : =. Ca ae

"Tt had a broken wing," said the SPCA spokesman, "and it was infected. But it will mend and then be sent’ .
back here to be released." ee oe eet TD

The Audubon Society Field Guide states that the hawk ow! (Surnia ulula), 14” to 17", is "a truly northern -
owl... that ranges across the boreal forest zone from Alaska and northern B.C. to Newfoundland’. |” 7

"Like many northern birds that have rarely seen humans, it can be exceedingly tame." .

| — Nariey Orr’.

.-

h

on home energy costs.
Set your thermostat ) Switch to natural gas.
back at night. | 4 At nearly half the’cost of ©

other fuels, natural gas is the
best bargain in home energy.
Clean, convenient, safe, and
very economical. Why pay
hundreds more for heating?

An automatic setback -
thermostat can cut the cost
of home heating up to 20
' per cent by turning down
‘the heat when your family
is asleep or out of the
house. °

3 | having natural gas lines installed to your home. | Gaslid.

| | Terrace Review — March 20, 1992