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News travel fast in a 5x5 km downtown core with a population of 100,000+. I got the first email in the morning. There was a baby owl 5 blocks down at the corner of Burrard and Hastings. Easy to find, been there for a while, a cutey.
It wasn’t until after work that I got a chance to investigate, and I first had to run home and grab my camera bag. I was back on location around 5:45 pm, 999 W. Hastings, esplanade of AXA Place. I thought I wouldn’t be that lucky. I was wrong.
The owl was right there, at eye level in a small 
tree rising from the sidewalk below, right in front of the building’s entrance. A few people were still exiting the building on their way home and most stopped by to see the bird, respectfully staying a few feet away and snapping blurry pictures on cell phones. The word had indeed traveled.
Everyone - including me - thought the poor owl was a baby. Roughly the size of my hand, it sat on a branch and seemed sleepy and bored. It half-opened its eyes once in a while to check me out and went back to sleep. It was, most definitely, adorable.
I shot 69 images, freezing my hands a bit (it’s still winter here, even though buds are finally appearing on the cherry trees) and went home. On the phone later, Marie rightfully pushed me to call someone knowledgeable to see if they thought the bird needed help, which I did. I called O.W.L. in Delta at 7:00 pm and to my surprise, someone answered, friendly and interested. I was explained that my owl probably wasn’t a juvenile but a full-size adult and was offered a couple of specie options, the Pygmy or also very small Saw-whet Owl.
Very cool. It would seem it’s migration time and the beautiful bird was just resting and hiding from the crows, and will be gone by tomorrow. I will check.
« I wish full-size human adults were as cute and inoffensive as your visitor.
Date of comment: 2009-04-03 07:59 •Keep us posted. »
« Aaaawwoooooooooohsecutywutycootchie! »
Date of comment: 2009-04-03 10:15 •« Well, she was indeed gone this morning. She, I say, because it would appear someone from a bird organization came to ID the owl last night, and confirmed a female Saw-whet. »
Date of comment: 2009-04-03 16:17 •« Sweet owl. How do you know someone came to ID her? - owlnet? »
Date of comment: 2009-04-03 16:46 •« Nah, someone from the building management team called them and they came. Just not sure which organization... »
Date of comment: 2009-04-03 17:24 •« Gorgeous pictures! Thanks so much. And if you want more pics of raptors, the wonderful people at OWL might let you take some close-ups. It’s a great place;spent a couple of hands-on days there a few years ago. »
Date of comment: 2009-04-04 03:22 •« Thank you. Never been to OWL but I might drop by some day... »
Date of comment: 2009-04-04 15:00 •« Thanks so much for these wonderful pictures! They sent me straight to Kirsten’s copy of Owls of the World by John A. Burton. Now I want to see one. »
Date of comment: 2009-04-04 10:41 •« Hi Jay
»
Date of comment: 2009-04-04 15:03 •I’m think that if you were to go to a certain farm and withstand the assaults of a certain drunk sheep, you might see one. As I understand, the owner there has everything.
« Eish Beence! He would mow it down at dawn in his little aeroplane - another trophy for the wall?!
»
Date of comment: 2009-04-04 16:18 •« Great capture! I saw a field full of eagles along River Road near Ladner a few days agao. Amazing sight! »
Date of comment: 2009-04-05 00:08 •« Wow, really, they’re there now? I saw them 3 years ago, in the trees by the side of the highway (north side) on the long stretch before getting to the bottom of Mud Bay. If it’s the same spot, I’ve been waiting to see that again ever since! Amazing sight indeed! »
Date of comment: 2009-04-05 01:01 •« I want it I want it I want it »
Date of comment: 2009-04-06 10:32 •« Hello Hen
Date of comment: 2009-04-06 14:51 •How are the Green Belt birds doing? »
« Hen! You’ve mastered it!
Date of comment: 2009-04-06 18:15 •Don’t you think the owl looks like Kehdi? »