‘O’ is for October

Odd Orange-Eyed Owl 🦉

A sonnet about the rediscovered Rajah scops owl

illustration and handwritten words by author

An oddish looking owl with orange eyes
The no-frills un-official descriptor
for what ornithology classifies
an Otus brookii species of raptor
First sighted over a cent’ry ago
then never seen again ’til recently
on Mount Kinabula, Borneo
A most exciting rediscovery
Almost nothing is known of this rare bird
No feathers found to extract DNA
No young to be seen, no call to be heard
A mysterious bird in every way
The Rajah scops owl with bright orange eyes
is proof that Nature will always surprise.

© Carolyn Hastings 2022

The story of the rediscovery of the Rajah scops owl (Otus brookii brookii) at Mount Kinabula, the UNESCO heritage-listed mountain in the Malaysian-zoned region of northern Borneo, makes a fascinating read.