20 Bird - Lore 



had held its visitor, it now perched still nearer by, where it was joined by its 

 mate, the two sitting statue-like, side by side, but a few yards distant. Having 

 obtained satisfactory photographs, I was now ready to descend. I was about 

 half-way down when something struck me a terrific blow just back of the right 

 ear, nearly breaking my grip. It was a moment before I could realize what had 

 hit me, so dazed was I by the force of the blow. Hardly had I recovered my 

 hold when another similar blow caught me on the left cheek, leaving a deep 

 gash beneath the eye, and when I finally reached terra firma I was cut and 

 bleeding. 



A visit to the nest the following day found the Owls on hand, anticipating 

 trouble, and perceptibly more ready for an encounter after the previous day's 

 experience. On the other hand, I was also on the alert, prepared to protect 

 myself in an emergency. Climbing the tree to and from the nest proved most 

 hazardous, as the Owls seemed to realize fully my awkward position, and to 

 take this act, therefore, as the signal for an attack. During my short observa- 

 tion of the nest the birds hooted and snapped loudly, and as I started down one 

 of them launched out for me. In a long swift swoop, on horizontal pinions, it 

 came on down, the great yellow eyes holding me with a sinister, ominous 

 intensity. The next instant, hugging close to the trunk, I swung up an arm, as 

 if to strike, simultaneously ducking. Checked by this feint, the Owl passed, 

 missing its aim by a few inches, and before its mate could follow up the oppor- 

 tunity, I slipped to the ground. Quick action was demanded, for as one bird 

 came from one direction, the other would follow up the attack closely from 

 the opposite side. 



The blow, in every case aimed at the head, caused a curious numbing 

 sensation; the bird seemed to strike in full collision, yet at the same time to pass. 

 While the main force of the stroke apparently came from the beak, the claws 

 left their deep unmistakable furrows. Indeed, it was necessary to keep a care- 

 ful watch, when in the proximity of the nest, as the least lapse of vigilance was 

 sure to result unpleasantly. The eyesight of Owls, contrary to popular opinion, 

 is sufficiently keen, even in bright daylight, and the sagacity with which the 

 birds would time their attacks merits admiration. 



One other incident of the day was of particular interest. One of the Owls 

 was perched in the top of a pine watching me jealously as I handled the 

 young. Suddenly a body shot downward out of the sky, swerving past the 

 Owl's head with such terrific velocity as to produce a sound like a small clap 

 of thunder. It was an uneasy glance that the wise old bird cast upward, as 

 it apprehended the swoop of the Cooper's Hawk just in time to prevent 

 being struck. The Hawk evidently had perceived the Owl's unwonted pre- 

 occupation, and had been tempted to startle it, the result probably being a 

 more or less unusual occurrence in the life of these birds. 



