Our Visitor - Friend or Foe?

We live just down the road from the World Center for Birds of Prey.  This fun fact, coupled with the endless acres of sagebrush all around our neighborhood, it is not uncommon for us to have very large birds around our house.  That being said, it is always startling to find them camping out in our backyard.  This guy stuck around for a day or two.  He just kept relocating to a different eave.  He was quite engaging, as you can see from the pictures.  We just had to make sure to keep Willow inside.  

I posted these pictures on Facebook and learned that Owls can be messengers.  I suppose I should have remembered this from Harry Potter.  I was joking to Sidney that perhaps the owl could carry off Bella (I think she must have been particularly annoying that day).  I giggled to myself for several days picturing this scene in my head (only insert Bella).  The Proposal - Scene with Kevin the Dog