One of my favorite work friends, that I worked with at Hartmann Luggage, has been at the well known super store on South Cumberland Street for several years. Gloria Denney always gives me a hug, no matter how busy she is. Gloria works with Sandra Palfreeman, whose husband Bob sent me a great photo of a Red-bellied Woodpecker that really shows the red on the belly. I hope this will print good in the Wilson Post.

After some delicious turkey burgers cooked by our friend Angie Zurawski, Maggie Whiteaker and myself took off to the meeting spot for my Owl Prowl over by theDixon Merritt Nature Center. The hay ride minus the hay, gives me an unpleasant feeling everytime we load up on the wagon. I am not afraid of too many things, but the thought of getting a splinter stuck in my backside drives me wild. It happened to me once many years ago at one of the Wrestling Matches at the Nashville Fairgrounds where some lady asked me to scoot over so she could sit down. That was the last time for scooting for me. In about two hours, and sitting side saddle in the back of a pickup truck, I had to wake my mother and get her assistance to remove what seemed to be a 2X4 plank. Come on Buddy, I'm sure the park can afford some hay bales.

With our wagon loaded with our Owl hunters, we headed back behind the Nature Center on a new piece of property owned by the park to try calling the Screech Owl, our smallest Owl here in middle Tennessee. Bill and Marilyn Dozier, a couple of my regular readers was waiting on their Bird Guru to arrive. Just as we were set to do some calling, it seemed like we were in a war zone with neighbors racking off shot after shot. I kind of hunkered down a bit to hear if any shells were traveling just over our heads. We headed on out away from the DMZ, hoping that at any time they would run out of bullets. Still, no Owls! After being out right at dark, dew had fallen and then, hey Buddy, were stuck. Everybody off and then push. Finally we reloaded, not the guns, the wagon and headed back to the main road inside the park

Headed up to the swimming pool area, someone hollered that we were being stalked with a car, only running with it's parking lights on. After pulling into the parking lot, the car came up along side us. Our stalker turned out to be none other than Karen Franklin and her daughter Anna. She had arrived a little late and just missed us, then decided to wait for our return.

It took a few minutes of hooting before the three Barred Owls came on the scene, with their eight notes, "who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all". The last note is eat up with a southern accent. There was about fifteen minutes of the Barred Owls showing off, then laughing at us and finally called it a night. While we were unloading the wagon, someone heard the Screech Owl hollering up around shelter 5. We all headed that way except Maggie, who was exhausted from the hard bouncing from the rear of the wagon. Several pictures were taken of our 3 little guest in the Juniper tree.

Everyone seem to be happy with our Owl find and some of the children did their best to imitate what they had heard. You may not know who will one day take my place and do these same things for others to enjoy. Karen, if you will not be doing that, it's a good chance that your daughter Anna might step up and fill my shoes.

We would love to hear from you as to whats lurking about in your neighborhood and at your feeders. You can e-mail Karen Franklin at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write me at 606 Fairview Ave, Lebanon, TN,37087 or e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it