Reviews from

Flaco the Owl

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29 total reviews 
Comment from Glenda Collins
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

What a captivating story that you have written very well. Owls are beautiful creatures. Living in rural areas and having many a barn owl to get to know, I have always been intrigued by them. What an amazing last year your Flaco got to live. Being a captive and then set free to enjoy a new way of life with all its hardships and joys to experience. Seems to me appropriate for a "New Yorker" when one relates it to the history of our nation. Thanks so much for sharing. I enjoyed reading this very much.
Glenda

 Comment Written 12-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 12-Mar-2024
    Glenda.
    Much appreciated review from this post.
    John
Comment from Janet Foor
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Flaco's story is quite an adventurous one. One of our daughters lives on the Upper West side in NYC just a few blocks from Central Park. I'm eager to ask her if she knows what I know about Flaco the Owl.
Well written story.
Blessings
Janet

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 07-Mar-2024
    Ah, Janet. Thank you for all those shiny stars. I do appreciate it.
    I?d be curious to know what your daughter knew.
    John
reply by Janet Foor on 07-Mar-2024
    She and her husband are in the entertainment world but she does have a dog to walk. I will definitely ask her.
Comment from Liz O'Neill
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is what I would worry about: "With his new found independence came exposure to risk and all the real-life perils and thrills of New York City." this is a very endearing story: "Flaco soon became the underdog everyone rooted for. A number of artists painted murals of Flaco, poets wrote poems about him, musicians wrote songs about him, and some people got tattoos of his likeness." but a sad ending.

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 07-Mar-2024
    Thank you so much, Liz.
    I appreciate you and your time.
    John
reply by Liz O'Neill on 07-Mar-2024
    What an intense story
Comment from Brenda Strauser
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I enjoyed reading this story. I have never heard about this owl. This story was very interesting. It is sad that he dies. Owls are unique creatures. This story was well written. Great job

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 07-Mar-2024
    Brenda, thank you so much.
    Flaco is happy in bird heaven!
    John
Comment from Jim Wile
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Great biographical sketch, John, for a hero in the eyes of many. That he was able to survive and eventually thrive after he had been freed from captivity served as an inspiration to many that freedom is the natural state of man (and animals) and is what we should all strive for. Of course there is risk involved, but with the risk can come great reward. I'm sure he was happier being free despite the fact that his life may have been shortened.

It's the debate we've always had about letting our cats go outside. We've always done it because they just seem so much happier being outside. Life indoors can get boring. Yes, statistics show that it shortens their lifespan, but I believe it's a happier life.

We've compromised with our current cat by building him an outdoor enclosure that lets him spend much of his day outside where he likes to be, but does confine him inside his tent and tunnel system, unless he occasionally escapes from it, or darts outside when he gets the chance if we're not careful about closing doors right away.

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 07-Mar-2024
    Jim, thank you so much for this great review. I always appreciate your input.

    John
Comment from John Ciarmello
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Oh, I hadn't heard of Falco. This appears to be rather recent, and the reason he was released is still under investigation.

However sad it is, it is a beautiful story of freedom. Falco adapted nicely to his new environment and lived a reasonably typical owl's life until his demise.

Great story, John! Best, JohnC

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 06-Mar-2024
    John, Thanks a bunch for your time to read and review.

    JohnD
Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

You wrote this very well. But it never fails to amaze me how people can step over starving people in their path to rhapsodize about a bird, animal or fish. It boggles my reasoning center. Good work. Karen :-)

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 06-Mar-2024
    Thank you, Karen.
Comment from Wendy G
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

What an amazing story. Well written and interesting. I was happy to hear how well his life of freedom was turning out, and then very upset to hear of his death. Thank you for sharing. Here in Australia I had not heard of him. I am glad he was honoured posthumously.
Wendy

 Comment Written 05-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 06-Mar-2024
    Wendy.
    Thank you for your time to read and review.
    John
Comment from BethShelby
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is good story and I enjoyed reading it. Even though it shorted his life it is good that he got a taste of freedom. There is something built into the DNA of animal that compels them to survive in the way their ancestors did.

 Comment Written 05-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 06-Mar-2024
    Beth, thank you so much.
    John
Comment from Julie Helms
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I've never heard of Flaco, so your story was completely new to me. I live about 3 hours from NYC. Been hearing a lot of negative stuff in the news about the city, so this would have been a nice human-interest story.
Poor bird kept in a cage too small for him to learn to fly. Thanks for sharing this touching story!


into a buildings clear glass window. (Building's)

symbolof freedom (symbol of)

Thanks,
Julie

 Comment Written 05-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 06-Mar-2024
    Ooops...
    Thank you for the corrections and your time.

    John