Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Queer Bird

It was 7:10 in the evening, Thursday, July 1, 2010. A Cebu Pacific plane Flight No. 346 for Kalibo – Manila was about to take off at the Kalibo International Airport (KIA). It was a propeller type plane of 70 passenger capacity.

The plane was at the south west end of the runway. It has gained speed, was about to gain elevation. But no, for suddenly, the pilot applied his foot hardly on the brake. The plane jerked, the passengers were calm.

I noticed the plane was taxing back to the tarmac of KIA. I inquired with the cabin attendant if there is any trouble. She smiled as if to give safe assurance and said, "the pilot will inform us what happened when the plane is in a full stop".

True. As the plane stopped, the pilot announced, "A bird crushed at the windshield of the plane. We went back and stopped to check if there is any damage to the plane for our security."

The passengers were requested to disembark as the plane crew will check for any damage to it. After the check up, they found the windshield was splashed with blood, the plane has no damage, no crack.

Airport personnel who looked for the bird which crushed the windshield of the plane saw a big owl which body was badly mangled.

It might have come from either Tigayon Hill. Mangrove Eco Park in Kalibo or Magubinlod Hill, Maybuaya Hill, or Manduyog Hill in Banga.

THE OWL

The owl usually hunts at night. It is a nocturnal bird. It is hardy as it can adapt to desert, mountainous or swampy terrain. It migrates only in short distances.

Owls are found in all countries. But it is disappearing in the Philippines. And that incident with Cebu Pacific plane in the evening of July 1 deducted one owl of what remains in Aklan.

Owls range from small or six inch long body. It is a fierce bird of more than two (2) feet long. It can take over an eagle’s nest. It is also insect eater.

Do you believe something superstitious about owls? In some countries, the owl is the object of quaint superstitions. Many think the owl is so uncanny as it hides and sleeps at daytime and comes out at night.

Some believes that the call of an owl near a house is deemed to be a sign of death to one of the house occupants. In England, people prevent the omen by turning their pockets inside out.

But the owl is useful to man. It is effective for biological control against pests of farm crops.

When an owl comes near a house, it will feed itself with mice and rats and other insect pests.

OWL SPECIES

There are about 300 species of owls in the world. All owls are carnivorous, as it has sharp talons and strongly hooked bills.

The owls have large eyes, able to register the faintest light rays, necessary for birds that hunt at night.

The notion that owls cannot see during the day is false, for owls can see very well in the daytime. Hawk owl and snowy owl hunt regularly during the day. Owl is also very keen in hearing. The ears open through small apertures covered and protected by stiffened feathers below and behind the eye.

The owls cry startles small animals into revealing their locations. The slightest rustle in the leaves or grass, the owl hears it which swoops down on its prey noiselessly.

The owl is called "flying cat" of the world. It feeds on rodents which makes the birds very useful to man.

If there are only enough owls in Aklan, there is no need to buy rodents against the rats. Owls will eat them. /MP