Welcome to Barney’s Family Philosophy

We have known Mr. and Mrs. Barney about three years now. They have been living in an old, neglected, and very tall California fan palm tree approximately 15 feet from our main house.

Our owls, like all old friends, are completely at home with our family, while enjoying a safe, pesticide free environment and living comfortably in the tree.

Perhaps this not your or my idea of comfortable residence but works for them — or at least they continue to return each season. Their “doorway” is up towards the top of the tree, so it is wishful thinking to be able spy into their habitat.

What we consider characteristic sounds are coming from their home in the palm tree. Those include, but are not limited to, loud screeching, purring, and everything in between. Springtime in Arizona, one can hear a baby owlet tweeting.

One summer we witnessed three junior sized fledglings’, sitting on top of our block wall at night and performing noisy trial flights into their palm tree doorway.

Many a night in Phoenix, Arizona the darkness can be cloudless and bright with moonlight, thus the owls have been seen on numerous occasions between dusk and dawn.

Just when we think the Barney’s are gone from our lives, they suddenly show up with their usual routine. Silently flying around and over us, coming, and going from their home, and perching on the dead branches of the several nearby eucalyptus trees waiting for unsuspecting victims to pass by.

Some of the Barney family frequently fly half circles over us, sometimes briefly hovering over like a helicopter, and has even met us at the entry gate to our property. Many times, they are seen leaving for a long flight off the property, but in fact will do a U-turn to express an unspoken greeting before leaving. (The owl’s height above us — approximately the height of the house).

It is also not uncommon during the day to see one of the barn owls sleeping, while standing at the edge of their entryway of the palm tree. With the just the slightest movement from anyone -their eyes appear to slit open and then close.

In the beginning we had little to no experience with owls. It has been written over time, or as history suggests, that owls represent a kind of spiritual, yet spooky and mysterious sensitivity.

As a kind of bequest, [gift] the owl’s leave behind pellets of all shapes and sizes. Those selected for cleanup duty, seem to do a though job of housecleaning — as there can be any number of pellets found each day — also it quite possibly considered is a safety measure. We find scattered pellets not only below the palm trees but also amongst other trees.

The Barney’s are especially fascinating and have been a wonderous experience for our family. It has been a special learning experience and we wish to pass this on to other animal novices.