Ahhh the familiar snap of shutters, and the honking of horns in support. This I remember from the beaver days. Yesterday’s owling was a good success, with about 40 supporters, great neighborhood interest, and a channel 5 news camera. Lisa Owens Viani brought lovely owl masks, and I came up with the idea of printing the eyes on stickers and putting them on everyone’s backs. There were children who came by who wanted to sign a petition and parents who had walked the neighborhood and always wondered about those little owls.
Two things I didn’t expect: to be greeted by strangers like animal-advocate rockstars for saving the Martinez Beavers, and to see actually little owls popping out of their burrows. They were every bit as adorable as you might have anticipated. I can’t think of anything that is more charismatically worth saving. (Shhh don’t tell the beavers.)
We were on channel 5 and channel 2, and there is a great article in the Contra Costa Times. All in all, it was an afternoon well spent and a great way to launch into 2010.
