You're Pushing Too Hard On Me

This just in from the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, AZ:

The article notes: The owls, which still have a presence on some undeveloped land in the East Valley, are not endangered in Arizona but are protected under federal law. If found on a construction site, they must be safely removed and relocated.


“They used to be along every canal bank and vacant lot in Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek,” said Randy Babb, a biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Of course, now you can’t find a vacant lot or canal in those areas. All of those habitats are gone. … I don’t think we have the fear that they will disappear, but like other animals, they’ve suffered in the face of land abuse.”

Well all I want is to just be free,

Live my life the way I wanna be,

All I want is to just have fun,

Live my life like it's just begun,

But you're pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard,

On me...

(1960's flashback warning--do not click this link unless you were born before 1960)

Owls in Cave Paintings

Humans adorn all sorts of items with owl figures.  So, it's no surprise that about 30,00 years ago humans depicted owls on a cave in France.  The paintings in the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave contain the earliest paintings ever done by humans.

What these people thought of owls?  What species of owl were they painting?
Here's a photo of an owl depicted in the cave.  Let us know what species you think they were drawing.

Owl Arrested for Public Drunkenness

An owl in Pforzheim, Germany was arrested for public drunkenness.  A woman walking her dog saw the owl sitting by the side of the road oblivious to passing traffic. When police arrived they did not need to give it a breathalyzer. The owl was staggering around with drooping eyelids. Apparently there were a couple of bottles of Schnapps nearby as well.

Actually, the police took the owl to a local expert who has treated "alcoholized birds" rather than put it in the drunk tank. The owl is being given plenty of water, and will be free to go when sober.

What is the smallest owl in the world?

Well, this couldn't have been more obvious.
The two smallest owls are the...wait for it....


Northern Pygmy Owl and the Elf Owl.


Now we feel a little stupid for not knowing that off the bat.
Which one is smallest?  Depends on the individual owl to whom you happen to hold up a ruler.
The Northern Pygmy Owl is between 6 and 7 inches, while the Elf Owl is 5 inches to up to almost a foot tall.


Here's a small peek