Ilkeston - An Owl Experience
w/e 10 August 2008
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
A couple of artificial owls have appeared on the roof of the
Albion Centre presumably in an attempt to deter the pigeons that
have become particularly numerous recently. The introduction
of these statuesque frighteners has not been an unmitigated success
as the pigeons have just taken up residence further down the
precinct.
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There was another owl image not far away where this vehicle with
the decorated spare wheel cover was parked in the grounds of
the Erewash Museum.
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Schools are out for the summer and a number of events have been
arranged at the museum over the holiday period. Despite grey
skies and the threat of rain, a steady stream of spectators,
both children and adults (if you'll excuse the pun) flocked to
the museum last week to see one of those events that had set
up on the lawn.
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That event as you may have deduced from the parked vehicle was
Bob Morley's Owl Experience. Bob is an owl conservationist and
public speaker giving talks among others, in schools to give
a better understanding of owls and other birds of prey. Bob is
also a wildlife photographer and prints of some of his excellent
photographic images were available for sale at the museum as
well as souvenir key rings.
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But
the main attraction were the birds themselves which Bob introduced
one by one. It is not unknown for him to be seen walking around
Ilkeston with one of his birds perched on his arm although it
should be understood that these are wild animals and could hardly
be classed as pets. In his talks to the visitors to the museum
Bob pointed out the different eye colours of the owls. As a general
rule and contrary to popular belief, although there are exceptions,
only the owls with black eyes are nocturnal hunters. Those with
yellow eyes hunt during the day and orange eyed species usually
hunt early in the morning and at twilight.
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Bob had brought several species to the museum including a Great
Horned Owl, a Barn Owl, a European Eagle Owl, an Indian Eagle
Owl and a Tawny Owl but the smallest and cutest one that attracted
the most attention was his White Faced Scops Owl named Gizmo.
And just as a footnote, all the time I was at the museum, I didn't
see a single pigeon. Perhaps the owners of the Albion Centre
should get in touch with Bob!
There has been a link from this site to the Owl Experience for
a long time now on the Recommended Links page but if you would
like to visit Bob's site now click on the image below to open
a new window.
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