By Tim Binnall
A particularly strong pane of glass was all that prevented a pet parrot in New Hampshire from becoming dinner for a hungry owl that zeroed in on the bird and repeatedly flew into the window of a home in the hopes of snatching the prospective snack. According to a local media report, the strange incident occurred this past Friday in the community of Merrimack as Cynthia Auger and her family were gathering for St. Patrick's Day. However, their holiday celebration came to a sudden halt when something began violently smashing into one of the windows of the residence. Looking to see what was causing the commotion, Auger was stunned to observe "this big, huge owl" perched on the branch of a nearby tree.
While trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together in her mind, the homeowner was understandably taken aback when the bird took to the sky and flew directly into the window with a powerful thud. It was then that Auger realized that the predatory creature had set its sight on her pet parrot, Buddy, who apparently appeared to be a proverbial sitting duck in its cage inside the home. When a few more attempts at smashing the widow proved futile, much to the homeowner's relief, the owl went off in search of easier prey.
However, this respite wound up being temporary as, shortly thereafter, Auger heard "Buddy freaking out. Squawking, screeching, and flapping around." Much to her chagrin, the persistent predator was not quite ready to give up the hunt. "I looked down," Auger recalled, "and there's the owl in the snow below the window staring at the bird cage." Incredibly, the creature returned to same spot the next day to continue watching Buddy with what one assumes were very hungry eyes. As for how to put an end to the strange stalking, an animal expert offered a rather easy solution and suggested that Auger simply move the parrot to a place where the owl can no longer see it.