Everyone is fond of owls
May 28, 2009 12:04 PM Subscribe
More circuit-bent furbyish, I think.
posted by The White Hat at 12:12 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by The White Hat at 12:12 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Are you sure that isn't a Muppet?
posted by jeffkramer at 12:16 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by jeffkramer at 12:16 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
They look cute, but a friend of mine had one and one day he fed it after midnight. Carnage, I tells ya.
posted by MuffinMan at 12:19 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by MuffinMan at 12:19 PM on May 28, 2009
DIET
Large insects, small mammals, snakes, and small birds
hmm, be scared ceiling cat, be very scared
posted by fistynuts at 12:21 PM on May 28, 2009
Large insects, small mammals, snakes, and small birds
hmm, be scared ceiling cat, be very scared
posted by fistynuts at 12:21 PM on May 28, 2009
The video seems to end with, having foolishly trusted the humans he encountered in his jungle habitat, our confused owlish friend being shown a branch in a drab room. "Welcome to your new home. Mwahahahahah".
posted by CynicalKnight at 12:24 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by CynicalKnight at 12:24 PM on May 28, 2009
I will love him and hug him and call him George and stroke his pretty feathers and....
WAIT A MINUTE!
Bunny rabbits don't have feathers!
posted by briank at 12:34 PM on May 28, 2009 [5 favorites]
WAIT A MINUTE!
Bunny rabbits don't have feathers!
posted by briank at 12:34 PM on May 28, 2009 [5 favorites]
It's very Yoda-like, and then the eyes go just so and you realize it's been possessed by that black oil stuff from the X-Files and any minute now it's going to leap out of the screen and kill you.
posted by marginaliana at 12:34 PM on May 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by marginaliana at 12:34 PM on May 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
Awww, who's a cute widdle oh my god OH MY GOD N
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 12:47 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 12:47 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
The end seems like a bit of a downer, but evidently Kitty the owl is a resident of the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, where the video's maker is an employee. In general, I don't like the idea of healthy, nonendangered wild animals being kept in captivity, but they appear to be aiming for something good with the free-flight idea.
posted by notquitemaryann at 1:03 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by notquitemaryann at 1:03 PM on May 28, 2009
I like watching him close his nictitating membranes before he closes his eyelids.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:08 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:08 PM on May 28, 2009
The owls are not what they seem.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:09 PM on May 28, 2009 [9 favorites]
posted by mudpuppie at 1:09 PM on May 28, 2009 [9 favorites]
I hear they taste great. You can get them in the market along with 14 other types of nearly extinct animals.
posted by Chuffy at 1:11 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by Chuffy at 1:11 PM on May 28, 2009
I wonder precisely what percentage of the chordates like getting a good scritch on the back of the head. Everything with fur or feathers, at least, seems to like it.
posted by adipocere at 1:19 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by adipocere at 1:19 PM on May 28, 2009
Everything with fur or feathers, at least, seems to like it.
Having recently been bitten by the mites that were infesting my chickens, I absolutely know why they like it.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:22 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Having recently been bitten by the mites that were infesting my chickens, I absolutely know why they like it.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:22 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
I will include this creature, as well as the pygmy jerboa, in my soon-to-be-published Catalog of Animals That, While Generally Agreed To Be Adorable, Would Also Not Look At All Out Of Place In A Hieronymus Bosch Triptych.
posted by maryh at 1:22 PM on May 28, 2009 [12 favorites]
posted by maryh at 1:22 PM on May 28, 2009 [12 favorites]
Aww, wook at da cute wibble ... holy shit, what the fuck is up with its eyes???
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:34 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:34 PM on May 28, 2009
I wonder precisely what percentage of the chordates like getting a good scritch on the back of the head.
Well, I suppose it depends on the scritcher....
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 1:39 PM on May 28, 2009
Well, I suppose it depends on the scritcher....
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 1:39 PM on May 28, 2009
Only in the past couple of years have I come to realize the joy that is giving a bird a good head scritch. Cats seem to take it as a given and dogs are happy with pretty much any attention you offer them, but birds who will let you get in to offer the scratchies don't just like it; they fucking love it.
The head feathers get all puffy, the membranes come up, they make weird noises, and occasionally, if you find a tickle spot, their free leg will come up and the claw will start making silly little gestures.
I started liking birds a lot more once I realized they weren't going to break as soon as I touched them and that they actually liked to play.
posted by quin at 2:35 PM on May 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
The head feathers get all puffy, the membranes come up, they make weird noises, and occasionally, if you find a tickle spot, their free leg will come up and the claw will start making silly little gestures.
I started liking birds a lot more once I realized they weren't going to break as soon as I touched them and that they actually liked to play.
posted by quin at 2:35 PM on May 28, 2009 [3 favorites]
I never understood Gremlins. Isn't is always after midnight? When can you feed the little suckers?
posted by schoolgirl report at 2:40 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by schoolgirl report at 2:40 PM on May 28, 2009
Rachael: Do you like our owl?
Deckard: It's artificial?
Rachael: Of course it is.
Deckard: Must be expensive.
Rachael: Very.
Rachael: I'm Rachael.
Deckard: Deckard.
Rachael: It seems you feel our work is not a benefit to the public.
Deckard: Replicants are like any other machine - they're either a benefit or a hazard. If they're a benefit, it's not my problem.
posted by Relay at 2:53 PM on May 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
Deckard: It's artificial?
Rachael: Of course it is.
Deckard: Must be expensive.
Rachael: Very.
Rachael: I'm Rachael.
Deckard: Deckard.
Rachael: It seems you feel our work is not a benefit to the public.
Deckard: Replicants are like any other machine - they're either a benefit or a hazard. If they're a benefit, it's not my problem.
posted by Relay at 2:53 PM on May 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
mudpuppie : The owls are not what they seem.
Owls are Assholes.
posted by quin at 2:58 PM on May 28, 2009
Owls are Assholes.
posted by quin at 2:58 PM on May 28, 2009
I tell you, humanity will finally be replaced by a species that is both cute and deadly. He might be equipped with super-poisonous claws or something, but a minute or so of his big eyes and cooing and "look he's like people!" and I'm pudding.
Also, in case this hasn't dropped into your inbox yet, please to behold Sylvia, the tickle-loving Slow Loris.
See what I mean? I would be giggling and cuddling while she was eviscerating me.
posted by LMGM at 3:02 PM on May 28, 2009
Also, in case this hasn't dropped into your inbox yet, please to behold Sylvia, the tickle-loving Slow Loris.
See what I mean? I would be giggling and cuddling while she was eviscerating me.
posted by LMGM at 3:02 PM on May 28, 2009
I have to second TheWhiteHat - it reminds me of a Furby. Cute and disturbing in equal measures.
posted by Joh at 3:07 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by Joh at 3:07 PM on May 28, 2009
Raiden Owl.
posted by cmgonzalez at 3:27 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by cmgonzalez at 3:27 PM on May 28, 2009
those little encouraging baby cries he gives! Too adorable. I don't understand the eyes - are the eyelids white to make it look like their eyes are open even when they're not? If so, seems it would've been easy enough to add a fake pupil spot too.
posted by lphoenix at 4:21 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by lphoenix at 4:21 PM on May 28, 2009
Ha! Maryh, the Jerboa was my direct counteroffer to the concerned citizen who first passed on this owl video to me. There were a few moments of reconciliation required, in which I had to understand that the adorable owl would eat the adorable jerboa if they were in the same room.
The only owl video I've seen that can trump this is the Japanese footage of the remarkable shapeshifting owl.
posted by redsparkler at 4:24 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
The only owl video I've seen that can trump this is the Japanese footage of the remarkable shapeshifting owl.
posted by redsparkler at 4:24 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
The only owl video I've seen that can trump this is the Japanese footage of the remarkable shapeshifting owl.
OK, I get shape No. 2 -- "I'm much bigger than you think I am. Scary, scary. Better not mess with me, I'll fuck you up."
But what's up with shape No. 3? Is it trying to look like a different species of bird?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:13 PM on May 28, 2009
OK, I get shape No. 2 -- "I'm much bigger than you think I am. Scary, scary. Better not mess with me, I'll fuck you up."
But what's up with shape No. 3? Is it trying to look like a different species of bird?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:13 PM on May 28, 2009
I think it's trying to look as small as possible and take away all the big "Hey! I'm an owl!" indicators. That or it's going or "I'm not an owl! I'm something totally different! I'm not in your territory looking for tasty shrews! I'm just some dude! IGNORE ME!"
posted by The Whelk at 6:03 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 6:03 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Evidently there is a uncanny valley for cute/creepy that this owl straddles with ease...
posted by djrock3k at 6:13 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by djrock3k at 6:13 PM on May 28, 2009
Kronos_to_Earth: "I wonder precisely what percentage of the chordates like getting a good scritch on the back of the head.
Well, I suppose it depends on the scritcher...."
Hey! I know that girl!
posted by Captain Cardanthian! at 6:19 PM on May 28, 2009
Well, I suppose it depends on the scritcher...."
Hey! I know that girl!
posted by Captain Cardanthian! at 6:19 PM on May 28, 2009
<blushes> Excuse me. I didn't mean.... I meant to refer to the sign, not...oh, dear. </blushes>
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 7:36 PM on May 28, 2009
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 7:36 PM on May 28, 2009
This made me find this, which is now my favorite video of an owl ever and I can't stop watching. I have already crept/waddled up to my boyfriend a few times tonight, paused almost curiously, and then attacked.
and of course the keyboard cat version
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 8:36 PM on May 28, 2009
and of course the keyboard cat version
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 8:36 PM on May 28, 2009
Cool Papa Bell : But what's up with shape No. 3? Is it trying to look like a different species of bird?
Probably. Because that would make the most sense in a you're-a-strange-bird-on-my-turf sense. But whenever I see it, I like to think that the overall shape suggests a Siamese cat, which is to say, the most terrifying and dangerous creature ever to stalk this planet.
And therefore, the most obvious form to invoke pure unadulterated fear in anything that was capable or recognizing that particular shape.
posted by quin at 9:46 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Probably. Because that would make the most sense in a you're-a-strange-bird-on-my-turf sense. But whenever I see it, I like to think that the overall shape suggests a Siamese cat, which is to say, the most terrifying and dangerous creature ever to stalk this planet.
And therefore, the most obvious form to invoke pure unadulterated fear in anything that was capable or recognizing that particular shape.
posted by quin at 9:46 PM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
But what's up with shape No. 3?
I've seen a different video of the same type of owl, and (if I remember correctly) that it's imitating a particular species of monkey. Can't find the video anymore, though
and watching the eagle owl video is making me really want to give my bird a headscratch. Buzzard! wake up! scritch time!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 9:59 PM on May 28, 2009
I've seen a different video of the same type of owl, and (if I remember correctly) that it's imitating a particular species of monkey. Can't find the video anymore, though
and watching the eagle owl video is making me really want to give my bird a headscratch. Buzzard! wake up! scritch time!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 9:59 PM on May 28, 2009
Wow, that shape shifting owl really REALLY looks like it's imitating a cat. Whatever it is, that's an awesome adaptation you got there, Owlly!
Also: That going from HUGE to super-slim thing, combined with the intense gaze? I think this guy may be the Christian Bale of the owl world. Does he hoot in a "Batman voice"?
posted by maryh at 11:17 PM on May 28, 2009
Also: That going from HUGE to super-slim thing, combined with the intense gaze? I think this guy may be the Christian Bale of the owl world. Does he hoot in a "Batman voice"?
posted by maryh at 11:17 PM on May 28, 2009
I don't get Shapey the Owl either. Isn't the other bird also a critter-eater? Can't see much wisdom in looking like a big squirrel to a big guy with sharp beak and talons... Or is he trying to go for some local version of a mongoose kind of beast?
posted by Iosephus at 12:10 AM on May 29, 2009
posted by Iosephus at 12:10 AM on May 29, 2009
The skinnier owl shape struck me as feline at first too, but then it started to appear almost like a fox of some kind.
posted by pseudonymph at 2:30 AM on May 29, 2009
posted by pseudonymph at 2:30 AM on May 29, 2009
I like watching him close his nictitating membranes before he closes his eyelids.
I'm kind of freaked out that Firefox showed that link to me as having been visited. I don't remember reading up about nictitating membranes. I think my subconscious and I need to have a chat about late night browsing.
Could I be a secret owl? Worse, a secret shark?
posted by vanar sena at 2:39 AM on May 29, 2009
I'm kind of freaked out that Firefox showed that link to me as having been visited. I don't remember reading up about nictitating membranes. I think my subconscious and I need to have a chat about late night browsing.
Could I be a secret owl? Worse, a secret shark?
posted by vanar sena at 2:39 AM on May 29, 2009
As I understand it, with Shapey the Owl, when they bring out another bird that's just a little larger than he is, Shapey fluffs himself up to a much bigger bird as a defense. But when they bring out an owl that's much larger, he shrinks himself into a shape that doesn't resemble anything even approaching an owl, maybe a stick or something. Part of how he shuffles around on the perch is so he always presents the same sticklike side to the other, more intimidating owl.
posted by redsparkler at 10:57 AM on May 29, 2009
posted by redsparkler at 10:57 AM on May 29, 2009
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posted by jquinby at 12:08 PM on May 28, 2009