There was a singularly exclusive hootenanny north of town during the early morning of December 5th. A pair of vocalists singing quite finely gave a short public presentation.
The pair of presenters did not have any sort of stage. There was no flyer or advertisement issued to indicate their appearance. No reservation was required nor would it have been accepted, and there was no place to provide free-will donations. Any buffet would have had only natural foods.
This local duo started at a time of their choice which has usually been during the wee hours of darktime while they linger at a suitable woodland venue of their choice. They are unique in their presentation, but not exclusive in ranch country.
Despite being immersed in a deep sleepy repose of this early morning time, the concerto very quickly became a time to get awake, listen and realize. The musical chords seemed to be just outside my residential walls. Some close listening ensued because it was not obvious at first whether there was one or two vocalists. Continuing to listen to this song of the night, repeatedly and with a tuned appreciation, it became obvious that two vocalists were expressing a duet in a manner most fine. Sometimes for the brief time of their presentation it was just one voice. A few times during the minutes after the 3 a.m. hour they conveyed a special repeated song together.
A throaty who-who-who in of a basic tempo were their lyrics, often in tandem and sometimes in an obvious and quick response to what was heard from their partner. These few expressions were not boring since their overall presentation was for such a short time amidst a natural setting. The pines were stolid. No limbs of the bare winter deciduous trees were shaking. Local horses were stalwart in their unmoving stance. There may have been a twinkle or two of some stars despite so many multiple nights of clouds above?
There was no sort of cost to hear this musical duo. Other members of this night band can not only be heard near the Heart City but also are a feature of some many nights at other arboreal places in the vast sandhill country.
The musical duet was by a pair of great horned owls expressing an obvious version two partners expressing to other denizens of the land their dedication of being together for the quickly approaching breeding season.
The pair heard resides near the Valentine Mill Pond and the hills to the north. It is country they have found to be suitable for their survival. Night time activities result in finding enough to survive, whether it is mice or other small mammals they get for their silent flight.
Somewhere in the vicinity is a nest where early next year they will lay some eggs in a carefully prepared nest to begin another generation of hooty owls.
They are really expressive at times and may be enjoyed by anyone wanting to listen to the unique sounds of one night or another.