Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Owl heals in mayor's yard

She went to work every morning, glancing over to her left at where the owls congregated in the oak tree grove across the street.

Sally Tarpley, of Gurdon, said Monday she was concerned with a baby owl that had hurt its leg falling from a high branch.

"All I know is there has been a lot of hooting and owl noises coming from the two adult owls for sometime, over there in Clayton Franklin's back yard oak grove," she said.

"I work delivering mail during the day and come home at night to relax in my yard and garden. The owls have been my companions for sometime, but something changed recently."

Sally said she had always wondered if the two hoot owls had a nest and young ones. Although she did not report seeing the nest, she did say evidence fell from somewhere high in the trees.

"It is one of their babies," Tarpley said. "There may be more, but this one seems to have a hurt talon on one of its legs. The neighbor kids have stood around and watched it with me, but they have left it alone and been good to the baby owl.

"When I realized it was hurt, I made some calls to try and get it help. One person was just plain rude but I kept trying and finally found someone with the Game and Fish Commission that had sympathy for the hurt bird. They are to send someone out to inspect the situation. I suppose I could have just let nature take its course, but I appreciate the beauty and dignity of the owls. I don't want to see some dog get a hold of the little one."

Tarpley said she had not touched the creature, as its talons looked like it could do some damage to human flesh.

"I would have had to go get some strong gloves and be dressed for the occasion and I am not sure trying to grab it would help matters anyway," she said.

"My husband Billy and I have noticed the adult owls flying over our house into Clayton's yard for sometime. The noises they make go beyond hooting and more resemble some sort of clicking sound."

The young owl, by Monday afternoon, had managed to climb about three feet off the ground and perched in a bush on the lower part of the grove.

When it spread its wings, the span of them was observed to be approximately two feet.

Tarpley said, "I don't know if anyone can do anything for this baby owl, or if the people I called will even come out here, but I thought by telling my story someone in Gurdon might be interested and contact me during the day at the post office. These owls have become a part of my neighborhood routine in the evening. I just don't want to see anything bad happen to them."

Mayor Franklin said, "I have noticed the hooting and goings on of these owls for sometime. I don't know why they have taken such a liking to my neighborhood but Sally is right, they are beautiful and they are quite vocal about their presence."