Hoot

Several times in my life, knowledge that I gained from children's books has help me out.  As I was walking my dog a few months ago through the dunes on the beach I noticed a small bird on the ground that looked surprisingly like an owl. Then I remembered "Hoot" by Carl  Hiaasen.  The story of three middle grade kids saving burrowing owls from a housing project in Florida.   Sure enough in Calfornia we have burrowing owls.  I  am now monitoring a  pair for the California Burrowing Owl Project.  These are my owls. The top picture is George and bottom one is Gracie. I am told they might just be wintering here, but if they stay through the spring that is big news.  They live in seperate burrows that ground squirrels abandoned.  George has been enlarging several new burrows in hopes of attracting Gracie to his side of the dunes.  Spring is in the air!