Screech Owl

At this year's Free Fishing Derby For Kids, conducted by the Brighton Optimist Club, there was an unexpected visitor.  A fully grown Screech Owl, brought by the Howell Conference and Nature Center. With a damaged left eye, it will likely not survive in the wild, but it sure did interest and amaze the kids (and the adults!) who were at the event. This is a relatively small bird, maybe 7 or 8 inches long.

This was the first time the HCNC was at this event, the 25th anniversary edition.  They do great work and have an absolutely wonderful facility, too.