As part of a new resolution to do tiny blog posts instead of long Facebook status updates, I would like to tell you about our nighttime companion here in the Perche.
His name is Strix aluco; we’ll call him Strix for short. He’s a Tawny Owl, in French “une chouette hulotte“. Every evening and night we hear him, all year round. He’s apparently the most common nocturnal predator in wooded areas in France.
I’m pretty sure our friend is a male. I found several sound files on the web, and this one (borrowed from The Owl Pages) is the closest I could come:
His cry is truly resonant for such a little thing. We never, ever see Strix or his buddies because their one desire is to melt in with their surroundings. And although they’re common in France, the chouette hulotte is a protected species.
He also has kind of a bad reputation – from antique times the spooky cry has been said to be a harbinger of ill tidings. But we’re not going there, nope, not us. We like to know someone is out there keeping an eye on things while we sleep.
Voilà, that’s all for today. I was just feeling pleased to have put a face and a name on our little neighbor, and wanted to share it with someone.
Kisses to all! Spring is on its way, yes, yes, yippee!
B.
