Community Corner

The Owl On Maidford River Road

Middletown resident Karen Johnson captured close range photos of an owl on Tuesday night. She would like to know more about this mysterious bird.

Around 9:00 Tuesday night, Karen Johnson's neighbor called to tell her that an owl just flew into a tree on Maidford River Road. 

"I ran out with my super duper flashlight, forgot the camera, had to run back to the house and grab the camera thinking the whole time, what the heck will I do if it flies out at me," Johnson wrote in an email.   "But as in the comic books, professionalism overcame the scared part of me and ... voila."

Johnson said the owl brought back memories of a little Italian gardener and his wife, who took care of the grounds on an estate in Pennsylvania, where her aunt lived and worked.  

The little Italian gardener and his wife feared the owls were bad luck. 

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"They were scared of owls and as soon as you heard one, you could be guaranteed to look out the window and see their lights on and then, see them trudging down to the train station to go into the city for the night." 

Johnson said she thought her owl was a Barred Owl, which she read is the only large eastern owl and is about 21 inches long. 

However, she is unsure and would like to learn more about this owl. What can you tell us about her owl on Maidford River Road?  

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