Solstice Takes Flight
June 24, 2022
Archie Fulfilling His Mission | “Penelope, I’ll wait here while you get back on that side of the fence!”
When Brad calls me during evening chore time, I know something is up. The fact that he is amazingly good at problem solving, doing tasks that should rightly take two people all by himself means he rarely has to ask for help.
He’s put up 80 ft of bean trellis which entails hanging 16 ft x 4 ft floppy metal panels alone. He’s shelled out pounds of dry beans, rolled up endless lines of drip tape with a handmade spool- tedious tasks- without a single complaint.
He is a genius at fashioning makeshift solutions to all sorts of problems, like how to get heavy, wide, and really long steel greenhouse bows off a 30 ft trailer, then through a 12 gate and down a 20 ft wide lane using the tractor and some fishing raft ratchet straps.
You can’t work with him for very long before it’s obvious why we call him The Farm MacGyver.
The other thing about Brad is that when it comes to animals, he’s as patient as the day is long. He’s also determined, highly observant and constantly aware of his surroundings. Which means he is usually on the front lines of critter situations.
What are critter situations? Those times that the animals don’t exactly follow the playbook. You know. Humans write these books about the “nature of the cow” and “chicken habits.” Ha. I don’t know what expert sources the humans consulted, but I can tell you that none of our animals know they're supposed to be acting like “chickens” per the human’s textbooks.
As Brad is highly skilled at managing critter situations, usually I only hear about these non-by-the-book antics at the supper table, long after all gates have been properly latched, birds returned to their rightful roosts, and cats, well, present and accounted for, because obviously they run the show around here.
All this is a means to say that when Brad called me not long after he headed up to feed and water the animals last Tuesday evening, I knew something was up. Even though it happens rarely, my instincts are so alarmed when it does that I leap into action before I’ve hardly even said hello. It’s almost comical, this auto response. I’ve usually got my boots halfway on and I’m standing in the kitchen wondering if I need a towel, a bucket, a bowl of warm milk, or a net.
This time the towel was the ticket. We had a wild friend who needed a bit of assistance.
We have a pair of barn owls who nest each year in the barn and their little one had decided today was the perfect time to go from nestling to fledgling. The still-downy owlet had hopped up on top of the nest box, then attempted to fly under the rafters and, never having used those beautiful wings before, promptly fell ungracefully straight to the ground. Slim Pickins, drooling I imagine, was on the scene immediately to investigate. Luckily, (unsurprisingly?) Brad got there first and disavowed him of any notion that a hot meal was in the works.
The owlet of course, quickly disavowed Brad and I of any notion that we were going to be friends. How such a raucous, primordial, shushing scream could erupt and be sustained (20 long seconds) from such a tiny creature is unbelievable, but I am here to say, whoa nilly!
I acted as the distraction/bait, (yeah, you got to rock whatever you’re good at because we all can’t be animal whispering Farm MacGyvers). As I moved slowly forward, the owlet backed up toward Brad. Without any fuss or primordial screeching (by Brad or the owlet), he deftly wrapped a towel around the little one’s wings and picked it up. Seriously, like he does this every day and had practiced a million times. Slim Pickins and I were certainly impressed.
Then Brad climbed the hay bales to return the owlet to the nest box while a pair of very strong claws clenched his gloved hand. I think this was the owlet’s way of saying, hey, I still have a grip on the situation so no fast moves, ok buddy?
Amazingly, it took no cajoling to get the owlet to decide home was a better place to be. As soon as Brad made it to the roost perch, the little owlet climbed right inside and screeched at us until we dropped our heads and quietly tiptoed out of the barn.
The next morning, we saw one of the parents returning to the box with breakfast, which made us very happy. All was well on the home front. Whew!
A few days later, we saw the owlet back out of the box. Kids. They are nothing if not persistent. The owlet was tucked in the corner of the barn, wings spread wide, feathers fluffed to their fullest, head doing a u-shaped bobbing action. Brad surmised this was to make sure Pickins understood- I am bigger and tougher than I look. This time, Pickins seemed to get the message.
It was many years ago Dad helped me build our barn owl nest box. In fact, it was a birthday present for Brad. I’m sure our farm family has gotten more enjoyment out of that one little box built from scraps than Dad or I ever bargained for. This is a present that just keeps on giving– in sharing love, in appreciating the moment, in attention to the surprising details… that box has brought so much joy, all the way down to the exquisite feathers we find on the barn floor.
For now, our owl box is silent once again. Chores don’t seem quite the same, but I know this is what happens at the farm. This is what has always happened and will continue to happen. Beautiful experiences bloom, without warning, then are gone without a whisper.
For now, I am left to hope and imagine our hedgerow of firs and cedars east of the barn is home to another tawny white, serenely silent young barn owl. Secretly, I’ve named this year’s owlet Solstice. It only seems fitting, for the last time I saw those big eyes and gorgeous grey-blue and buff colored wings was around daybreak on June 21st.
May your summer dreams be taking flight too, right along with Solstice. ~ AJ
Solstice | Can you spot the fledgling in the photo above? For an even better view, check out this video of our little owlet. (Yes, there are kittens involved too because it’s from Brad!)
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has an amazing collection of photos and information about many bird species. Check out their barn owl page and learn some interesting facts about these predators. Even though we are fairly certain no owl has ever read this website, our experience proves that they are right about the grace, gorgeousness, and power of these birds. As farmers, we are very grateful they call April Joy Farm home.
