BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 30, 2020
Diane Winn, co-founder of Avian Haven, phoned. There was a nestling great horned owl on the ground in Bangor’s Mount Hope Cemetery. It was about the size of a softball with a beak. There were no feathers, just the soft down of a nestling that offers no waterproofing. It was soaked to the skin and it was cold. Without Mom’s body heat and protective wings to protect it from the cold rain, the little bird would soon suffer from hypothermia. It would probably not have survived the night. During the drive to Avian Haven, the little owl didn’t budge. By August, the youngster had grown to adulthood. I was given the honor of releasing the owl back at Mount Hope Cemetery. It flew silently along one of the paths and then turned and disappeared into the trees. It was a good feeling. ~ Richard Spinney