We often write about what we see or feel, but today’s inspiration came from what I heard.
The sun was just slipping below the horizon as Rose and I climbed into the car. We were headed back to the dance studio, our second home, when a sound from deep in the backyard stopped me in my tracks.
“The owl is back,” I announced. Before I even turned the car on, I was texting my sister-in-law to share the news.
That familiar, rhythmic call acted like a portal, instantly transporting me back to a soupy summer afternoon. We had been lounging by the pool while the kids found relief in the cool water. Suddenly, a strange noise drifted out from the woods behind the yard. We all froze, waiting, listening for it to repeat. The sound eventually lured the kids out of the pool. Soon, we were all lined up along the back fence, trying to place the sound.
“It sounds like a…hurt dog?” I wondered aloud, looking toward my sister-in-law, Molly, who was nearby with her one-year-old daughter, Sai. The sound came again. There even seemed to be a call and response. It was clearly a conversation, but between what?
“Maybe it’s an owl?” someone said. Molly hushed us as she held up her phone, successfully capturing the audio.
A few minutes later, the sound returned, this time coming from Molly’s speakers. She had identified the sound as coming from a barred owl. We spent the rest of the afternoon reading about them, captivated. For the remainder of that summer, every time those calls echoed through the trees, we would stop just to marvel at them.
I’m glad the owls have decided to make our neighborhood their home once again. It’s good to have them back.
If you want to hear the distinct call of the barred owl, click here.
Where There Is Joy 
I am often fascinated how sounds and tastes can take us back to specific moments in time. Thank you for sharing this one – how lucky you are to have an owl in your neighborhood!
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So sweet! Have to say, perfect for our one book two schools week coming up!
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I didn’t think of that!
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This is so cool, love your description and the sound stopping you in your tracks. Appreciate the detail of the kids coming out of the pool, helps to demonstrate the allure of this magical sound. And, for future reference, my favorite owl joke for any young ones around you – ‘I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but I think someone in this room might be an owl.’ (they’ll respond with ‘who?’).
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Oh that’s cute!
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Love the portal and the idea that so many things in daily life are portals to special memories and moments when I pay attention like I do in March. I’ll have to listen harder for barred owls– we have chatty great-horned ones around our neighborhood.
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I like your opening. It reminded me that all senses can be used as inspiration.
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You crafted such a strong image of all of you pulled out of the pool and over to the fence, and totally enthralled by the barred owl’s calls. We listen to them often through our open windows in the summer. We’ll even wake each other up to hear, whispering, “Did you hear that?” Great slice!
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How appropriate that you heard that sound on this particular week. Earthplace used to have a barred owl. I don’t think they were able to release it. I also don’t remember that call. Maybe there have to be two.
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This brings me back to my third grade classroom where one of my most favorite units was when the kids chose owls to research. They are fascinating. This is a sign of spring!
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Thanks for including the link – that may have been the most soothing 90 seconds of my day. How delightful to live in proximity of these remarkable creatures.
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Oh how I love the sound of an owl at night. We have one who frequents our property. I’ve named him Raoul the Owl.
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