2863. Tu-whit tu-whoo © Bruce Goodman 3 October 2023

No one had seen the owl, but people had heard it. They presumed it was an owl. Its call was a longish glissando wail followed by a shriek. Experts claimed – although not with certainty – that it was the Muzzi Dopson Owl. They were rare; in fact many claimed that they were extinct. That is why there was such a fuss about this particular owl. Ornithologists seemed to arrive out of the blue almost every second night. On the nights when there was someone waiting the owl would not be heard. It was as if it knew it was being looked for. It could be heard last night, said Arnie Wheelwright to a newspaper reporter. Arnie was the owner of the local general store where the owl was often heard. It sends shivers down my spine, although I must admit these visiting ornithologists are good for business! It gives me goose bumps, said Franny Cranberry. It gives me the creeps, said Braxton du Chateaux. Both Franny and Braxton worked for Arnie in the store. Then one evening a visiting ornithologist captured a recording of the owl’s call. Yes! It was definitely the call of the Muzzi Dopson Owl. It is not extinct after all! Let’s hope there are two of them. The recording of the call went viral on social media. Visitors flocked to such an extent that ornithologists worried that the owl’s habitat would be disturbed. I didn’t realize there was a visiting ornithologist here that night, said Arnie Wheelwright the storekeeper. Contact Author Back to Index Next Story Previous Story