Decatur, GA — A sign on the door and a post on Agnes Scott’s McCain Library website stated that the library closed Feb. 6 due to an unexpected feathered visitor.

Elizabeth Bagley, Director of Library Services, said a barred owl came down the chimney in the Main Reading Room around 3 p.m. on Monday, even though the gas was on in the fireplace.

“A student was sitting on the hearth, and he just popped up behind the screen,” said Bagley. The decision was made to close the library while staff try to find a way to encourage the owl to leave.

An exterior door was left open, and tempting owl snacks were left out, but so far, the feathered scholar has declined to leave.

Part of the problem is that the interloper is, well, a night owl. 

“We’re hoping it will be removed safely tonight. Obviously, it’s nocturnal, and the room it’s in is very bright,” said Bagley. 

Bagley said the library hired a falconer, Alan Colussy, with experience in such matters. “He said he removed an owl from a Home Depot last week,” said Bagley.  

Barred owls, with their characteristic “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” call, have become more common in Atlanta recently. Consequently, encounters with humans and their architecture have also become more common. 

Barred owls hunt more by sound than sight, so the falconer plans to provide some noisy bait to capture the owl, which will be given food and water before it is released. 

Bagley said that during COVID lockdowns, the library developed a process that allowed students and faculty to still access the materials they need. Books and AV equipment can be retrieved at the door as long as the library remains closed.

Agnes Scott students and faculty were delighted by their unexpected guest.

There is an owl stuck in the Agnes Scott library, so they had to close it for the evening! She looks real cute, too

— AstronautPants-Agnes Scott Library & Owl Enthusist (@AstronautPants_) February 7, 2023

Let her in the stacks!!! pic.twitter.com/0J0RWH43rK

— AstronautPants-Agnes Scott Library & Owl Enthusist (@AstronautPants_) February 7, 2023

For context, the owl is uh, maybe 3 stories up in the above photo! Here's how big the room she's in is. It's a big barn! pic.twitter.com/5MGpVYWpDF

— AstronautPants-Agnes Scott Library & Owl Enthusist (@AstronautPants_) February 7, 2023

Owl update pic.twitter.com/0HNVnADxZC

— AstronautPants-Agnes Scott Library & Owl Enthusist (@AstronautPants_) February 7, 2023

The superb owl finally departed on Feb. 10.

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