[Tweeters] White Owl that transformed into an albino pigeon

[Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

I’ve been just delighted reading these mis-ID stories! So glad none of us is alone in that. I’m really grateful to Odette for helping us see that.

It’s also nice to know that it’s not just us humans who are guilty of this challenge. Back in 2009 I spent quite a while in Lincoln Park watching a Barred Owl stalk something wiggling in the grass. The owl snuck up quietly, slowly, carefully as his prey moved slightly about—then pounced. Which was when he discovered that this enticing prey had been Sacculus plasticus…a plastic bag.

He looked around, apparently hoping no one had witnessed this embarrassing encounter - but there I was. As we looked at each other,<https://www.flickr.com/photos/trileigh/55389343293/in/dateposted/> I could just hear him begging me not to tell. Then he decided to vacate the premises<https://www.flickr.com/photos/trileigh/55389394849/in/photostream/> before a conspecific caught him in his mistake.

(It was a long time ago, so the photos aren’t as good as they might have been today.)

In all humility,
Trileigh


Trileigh Tucker

Gw’alali Valley, West Seattle

NaturalPresenceArts.com<http://naturalpresencearts.com/>

tri at seattleu <dot> edu


From: Odette James via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 3:55 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Tweeters] White Owl that transformed into an albino pigeon

Trileigh Tucker
Gw’alali Valley, West Seattle
NaturalPresenceArts.com<http://naturalpresencearts.com/>
tri at seattleu <dot> edu
At least my embarrassing misidentification led to a fun list on Tweeters today of other people's oopsies. The albino pigeon is still on our property - it has transferred to the garden within our U-shaped building, and other residents have been emailing me or coming by with phone photos. It is a very noticeable bird, and I'm the most experienced birder in the building. Though, after night before last, not sure I can still make that claim  .  .  .

Odette
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