Meeting Matilda

This is Matilda.  That's not her real name, her real name is Barred Owl, aka Hoot Owl.  The Park Service folks who feed her call her Owly. But I think she looks like a Matilda.

Matilda lives in a cage at the Nature Center of Chickasaw National Recreation Area. She lives there because once upon a time, as Matilda was swooping through the air chasing a mouse, she was hit by a car and broke her wing.  She won't be able to swoop anymore, so her mice are delivered by carriers wearing a Park Service uniform.


I felt guilty that the chatty people in the Nature Center were keeping Matilda from her daily nap.  She has a nice napping place.  Low lighting, soft nesting material.

But Matilda was very gracious about the disturbance to her sleep, and came over for a visit. She came very close and communed sleepily through the wire for awhile.  Looking at Matilda's eyes was the epitome of the word 'fathomless', as in bottomless and unable to comprehend. 

I wonder what she thinks about in there all day.  Does she remember the thrill of outflying the scampering mice? Can she recall the scent of the cedar trees?  Or is she just happy to waddle around, playing nice with the visitors and waiting for mouse a la' platter? I wasn't able to fathom her answer...