This morning in the pre-dawn, still warm enough for the windows to be open for the night, we were lying in bed contemplating getting up. Jane heard it first, hooting in the distance. "There's the owl!" she remarked. It was a perfect night for it, the bright moon waning gibbous, flooding the farmyard, fields and forest with soft light. The call was persistent and distinct, although faint and distant... first of the season. Jane remarked further, "It's great to live so close to nature." Life is good. Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Hopewell Township, Muskingum County ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]