Category Archives: Year 8

Another Owl Season Starts Now!

Two nights ago at 3 am (September 1st), I was amazed to hear my local owl’s territorial hooting. Through the clear, calm night air, Poppa Great Horned Owl’s deep booming hoots entered through the open window into our bedroom. Last year I did not hear him till the end of October. In addition to Poppa, I heard half-hearted begging / screeching from one of this year’s owlets. I think the owlet knew the free lunches were pretty much done. If lucky, the youngster might get an occasional free meal. The parent owls are defining their territory in preparation for nesting come mid winter.
This morning I watched crows give Poppa Owl grief for ten minutes. When the crows grew bored and flew away, the owl took a nap. Upon waking up, he looked around to check for pesky crows. Not seeing any of the black birds, the owl flew deeper into its favorite pine grove.
In this pic, he is ruffling his feathers just prior to his stretch and flight. One might ask how I can tell the difference between Poppa and Momma owl. Even though the male is smaller than the female, it has a much deeper hoot sound. In addition, the male owl is shorter and smaller than the female great horned owl.

Ruby Hears a Knock!

As Steve Martin would exclaim in the movie, The Jerk … I am in the phone book! I am in the phone book! In our case, Susan Laron Kidd’s and my new book IS NOW published! View the online extras for this book.

Ruby Hears a Knock! Ruby is a Red Fox that lives in the northern forest. In this beginning reader’s children’s picture book, Ruby hears a “knock, knock, knock” and goes to investigate. During Ruby’s wanderings, she makes new friends with many animals and birds, and ultimately learns what makes the “knock, knock, knock” sound.

View: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | 18 pages in total

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Written by Susan Larson Kidd. Photographed by Rich Hoeg.
Copyright 2021. All rights reserved (story and photographs).


Download a free PDF or purchase a printed copy of my other two books: Do You Hoot? | Snowy’s Search for Color!

The Kingfisher Kids

The look on your face when your sibling tries to steal the best fishing branch from you! Sharing was not an option for this very recently fledged kingfisher which was learning how to fish this morning. Normally I see young kingfishers in this particular spot the first week of August, not September 1st. I suspect the first hatch failed for whatever reason.

And some more pics of the two youngsters.