How cool is this?

[WilliamPitt]

The barred owl, thought to be less than a year old, has been spotted around the mall for about a month. When workers brought in a four-story spruce for the holidays, it found its roosting spot. (Addie Flisser/For The Boston Globe)

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is where one wild thing is
By Jack Nicas
Globe Correspondent / November 20, 2009

Faneuil Hall Marketplace has a new mascot.

An owl has made the shopping and dining district its hooting grounds for the past month. The creature fits right in at the popular tourist destination - people-watching, sampling the local fare, and even recently checking out the mall’s new 87-foot Christmas tree.

“He’s very friendly,’’ said Rebecca Stoddard, marketing director for the mall. “He floats around and oversees everything. You can see his head moving as he actually watches everyone go by.’’

The barred owl was first spotted in a tree near the North Market building in mid-October. Security officers and merchants took note, thinking the owl was a one-day novelty. But it kept coming back.

“It’s around a lot in the morning, going from tree to tree. It’s been here for about a month now,’’ said Carol Troxell, a marketplace business owner and president of the merchants association. “It’s really a marketplace favorite. You stop and look at it, and before you know it there’s a good crowd around.’’

When workers propped up a Norwegian spruce on the plaza last week, the owl took notice. On Tuesday, it perched about 15 feet up the tree and supervised the workers as they strung lights.

“It seemed the owl had come to pay us a visit,’’ said John Egan, owner of the New York tree farm that is installing and decorating the tree. “He flew in, sat on the branch, and watched.’’

The rest: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/11/20/faneuil_hall_mall_is_where_one_wild_thing_is/

I've never seen an owl outside of a zoo before. Might have to go down and take a look.

[TZ]

1. Thats awesome!

I've never seen a barred owl in the wild but I have HEARD them many a time. Boy are they LOUD! I suspect there is some good eating for the owl there...:)

[peekaloo]

2. Very.

There are two Barred Owls that hang out in my neighbor's bamboo trees. Show up every night about dusk and hang around the 'hood until daybreak.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. totally cool. n/t