High trees have made for great neighbors for the past 35 years

We have a couple families of neighbors that really attract our interest every time we see (or hear) them.

We have lived in this neighborhood for just about 35 years. When we moved in, just a few families were already here in homes constructed by Lowe and Nighswander, but, although I can’t prove it, I’m pretty sure this family was the first to settle in.

Their home is visible through the window of our family room and the smallest amount of activity stirs our interest. They are very much night owls and some of our other neighbors point out that they hear them at all hours of the night.

Allow the owls to live on their own

One time, many years ago, I found one of the younger generation of the family in our driveway all alone. When I called authorities to see what should be done, I was simply told to leave the youngster alone, the parents were still taking care of their child. Anyway “Did you see the talons on that bird?”

I did. These great horned owls that have readily captured our attention for decades are well equipped for defense and hunting. And this “child” warned me in no uncertain terms not to get too close as I took some pictures.

We have seen the owls return to their home high up in a sycamore tree just about annually for many years and we have watched and listened as the youngsters have begun to make their presence known.

We’ve seen what appeared to be youngsters learning to fly because the landings on nearby trees came progressively lower. I guess that’s what led to our driveway visitor.

Owl family has spread through the neighborhood

Apparently, the family has grown as our son Ryan said that when he took his dog for a late-night walk during a visit here he heard them conversing from at least three different locations.

What has me stumped is that while the books tell me that these owls dine on good-sized animals and birds, including ducks, the local wood ducks regularly land undisturbed on the predators’ tree. You think it’s because they are neighbors?

At any rate, I mentioned that there were two families.

While the owls are longtime residents, the others are pretty new to the neighborhood as far as Marty and I know.These neighbors sleep in our back yard, look in our windows and make themselves pretty much at home.

I think it's hilarious that these wild turkeys showed up in our yard for the first time that we noticed on a recent Thanksgiving Day. Some sort of message?

They prune themselves in our basement window and, yes, they can fly. We have seen them going to bed pretty high up in one of our backyard trees. And, flying down, they are pretty impressive looking.

Well, that’s my story. Except that I want to add that there is a bald eagle who stops from time to time to check things out, but he apparently is looking for a more upscale neighborhood to call home — one with better fishing.

Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965 as a reporter. Now retired, he writes a column for both The News-Messenger and News Herald.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: High trees have made for great neighbors for the past 35 years