Tyto Alba Affinis

If you recall, I told a story on how after I came back from a meeting the library was a train wreck and that also, a bird had gotten in and exploded all over the place (if you know what I mean). To continue on that part of the story, lately everytime I've walked into that place there is more and more bird shit, it's not just little stuff from sparrows or whatever those little blue and red birds are, it's alot. lol. As I was sitting in the library today grading papers, there were two students reading and an inspector from the Ministry of Education working. Out from one of the missing ceiling panels comes this giant wingspan and this bird flies over the one students head. Then, it lands on the bookshelf and I see that this bird is an owl, Tyto Alba Affinis or the African Barn Owl.

This is not the actual bird, if it comes back I will try to get some photos of it.

Anyways, it started to fly back and forth from the bookshelf to the window. The window is screened in so it grabbed ahold of it and was trying to rip the screen off. It was succeeding too, but I think it had been working on it for a few days because it was already ripped. The two students didn't seem to mind the owl so much, they just kept watching me to see what I would do. I really had no idea of what to do, I mean what am I a bird catcher? So, I just opened the other door, I whistled at the owl, who was once again tearing at the screen, it looked at me and then out the door and it seemed to have this look on it's face like, "oh, I can get out that way". Then, it just flew over the students and right in front of me, then out the door. It was a really cool thing to see.

Now, the funny thing about this was the inspector never looked up once during all of this and this was a big freakin bird!!! The students at least acknowledged the thing and ducked to avoid its razor sharp talons, lol. Him not reacting to anything, is almost as amazing as seeing the bird itself. Imagine that guy on a safari....yikes.