Give a hoot!

Look who we happened upon on our front yard this afternoon:

God is SO cool!

Now I have to go look him up in my Sibley Guide to Birds. Well, it looks like he is a Barred Owl. My book cracks me up sometimes...it says that this owl's voice is: "clear-voiced, expressive, hooting/barking hoo hoo ho-ho, hoo hoo ho-hoooooaw ('who cooks for you, who cooks for you all') ending with descending and rolling hoooaaw note" (p. 276). I wonder what the owl would cook up for me?! Hopefully he keeps his talons to himself as far as the little bunny who frequents our yard is concerned. He can take all the squirrels he pleases, but I want my bunny around. Maltby already took out like 8 babies last summer--end the genocide! ;)