Two owls, both alike in dignity, in fair Holland where we lay our scene

March 20, 2015 2:44 AM

Following the capture of the notorious Horror Owl of Purmerand, another notable Dutch owl is capturing the public imagination.

The Cuddly Owl of Noordeinde is making the news for 'companionably land(ing) on passersby’s heads.' Where the Horror Owl of Purmerand drew blood, the Cuddly Owl of Noordeinde is drawing attention to the tiny village, as birdwatchers and reporters flock to interact with Cuddly Owl. The owl is believed to have escaped from a nearby aviary.

posted by nerdfish (20 comments total)

When my little Turtle Bird, a Senegal parrot about the size of a robin, decides to land on my head, I feel her claws. My shoulders often have tiny scratches from same, even though her motives are always of a companionable nature. This guy has some serious claw control going on if he can hang out on heads without damaging them. Impressive.
posted by kinnakeet at 3:16 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

I don't care how nice he seems, he's trying to lull these people into a sense of security so he can more easily devour them and their children.
posted by dis_integration at 3:36 AM on March 20, 2015 [6 favorites]

Living as I do in mid-America and being not very well travelled outside my own continent, I grew up thinking of the Netherlands as kind of a mythical kingdom full of exotic wonders and strange happenings.

I'm trying to get over this but THIS OWL BUSINESS IS NOT HELPING!
posted by mmoncur at 3:54 AM on March 20, 2015 [5 favorites]

I think that sky-cat is looking for treats.
posted by amtho at 4:35 AM on March 20, 2015 [5 favorites]

Classic good owl, bad owl routine.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 4:45 AM on March 20, 2015 [18 favorites]

Ah ok so we're doing this in this thread now. OK

Update on the Terror Owl from this morning's news: he's a he; the falconer keeping him at the Undisclosed Location says he was raised by people and probably (illegally) released; the Terror Owl is eating well and generally happy; the falconer is looking for a girlfriend for Terror Owl. The county is bringing in special agents from the animal police to investigate Terror Owl's origins. Terror Owl will not be released back into the wild again.

I have no updates on the Snuggle Owl.

Terror Owl is best owl.
posted by digitalprimate at 4:55 AM on March 20, 2015 [18 favorites]

I am not generally a pet person, but I might reconsider for a head-owl.
posted by Dr Dracator at 4:58 AM on March 20, 2015

That Cuddly Owl looks like it's doing a mating display. Someone's going to get their head shagged, and it'll all be over.
posted by scruss at 5:10 AM on March 20, 2015 [3 favorites]

from ancient grudge beak to new landing scene
Where snuggle bird makes civil heads unclean.
posted by eriko at 5:30 AM on March 20, 2015 [8 favorites]

Aaaaaah want want want.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:05 AM on March 20, 2015

Everyone wants to have a cuddly owl on their head.

Until they poop.

The owl, not the person.
posted by tommasz at 6:26 AM on March 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

The owl, not the person.

I'd say either.
posted by hat_eater at 6:34 AM on March 20, 2015 [7 favorites]

Since a few people have suggested that Cuddle Owl wishes to romance Dutch heads, it might be a good time to revisit that one time Stephen Fry watched as a rare parrot shagged his cameraman.
posted by nerdfish at 6:37 AM on March 20, 2015 [8 favorites]

FLUFFY FEATHERED PANTALOONS!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 6:47 AM on March 20, 2015 [3 favorites]

Any word yet on how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie-pop?
posted by telstar at 6:51 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Are they the same species of owl? It looks like it.
posted by amtho at 6:58 AM on March 20, 2015

Is this how the owls-as-pests thing in Futurama starts?
posted by emjaybee at 7:18 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Are they the same species of owl? It looks like it.

Yep. Eurasian eagle-owl, or Bubo bubo (no, I did not make that "Latin" name up).

That said, the Snuggle Owl is from the Dutch equivalent of say, rural Indiana while the Terror Owl would be from the Jersey suburbs. Not the nice ones.

Terror Owl is best owl.
posted by digitalprimate at 7:41 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

The municipality advises people to carry an umbrella when they enter the owl’s fly zone.

Municipal politics can get weird, even down to the level of safety advisories.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:49 AM on March 20, 2015

A+ thread title!
posted by tavella at 9:19 AM on March 20, 2015 [5 favorites]