Rocky the owl inspires children’s book about his journey in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree

The story of a little Saw-Whet owl has sparked creativity across the country

Updated: 10:45 PM EST Nov 13, 2021

Special Projects Producer

This is the story about a story.Two stories, in fact.A month before the lights, the glitz and the pageantry of the 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting in New York, the 75-foot tall spruce tree had to be cut down in upstate New York.Along for the ride, as the tree was transported from the woods to the big city, in his little nest, was a Saw-Whet owl. The poor guy hadn't had food or water for three days. The man driving the truck had noticed him in the tree, got a box, and put him inside.The owl was eventually taken to the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in Saugerties, New York. They dubbed the little guy "Rockefeller," for obvious reasons. That being a long name, they called him "Rocky" for short. "I read the article and started thinking, wow, that would be a great children's book," said Kim Dwyer, a clinical psychologist in Denver, Colorado. "I had lots of other pots on the fire in my professional life, walked away from it, and like the idea just kept coming back. And I think, you know, I also felt, you know, so timely, like, I felt this, this like it, write this, write this now write this book now and get your thoughts out while they're fresh."Her thoughts turned to Rocky's journey, translated to human feelings. A Saw-Whet owl doesn't have the low-pitched kind of "hoot" you might think of. It's more like a higher-pitched, as Dwyer writes it, "toot." Not dissimilar from the whine of a saw being sharpened.The feelings and sounds were put into her first-ever Christmas book, Rocky's Christmas Journey."There's something there that's emotional," Dwyer said. "And I'm using that as an opportunity to, to talk as basic as like, how are people feeling right now? How do you think you know, the main character, how's Rocky feeling when he finds himself in this tree in the middle of a city, and he's so far away from, you know, where he grew up, or where he decided to build his nest?"In the end, though, her hope is that parents will help kids realize that they can see themselves in Rocky as well."I mean, if you think about it, we could take that story of Rocky, and we could substitute a four-year-old and you're going off to school, and I can remember being that age, and you know, I wasn't particularly thrilled to be going off to school, and a lot of kids feel that way," Dwyer said.It's more of a fictional account, but one she hopes will connect with kids.Dwyer isn't alone, the folks at the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center have written their own book for kids. Theirs is a little less fictional, but the same journey. They also sell tree ornaments, clothes, cups and more with Rocky's image on them. Dwyer's book is available at retail stores and online.The real Rocky, by the way, had a happy ending too, just like the Rocky in Dwyer's book —found and set free. Rocky's came with some help from the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.

NEW YORK —

This is the story about a story.

Two stories, in fact.

A month before the lights, the glitz and the pageantry of the 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting in New York, the 75-foot tall spruce tree had to be cut down in upstate New York.

Along for the ride, as the tree was transported from the woods to the big city, in his little nest, was a Saw-Whet owl. The poor guy hadn't had food or water for three days. The man driving the truck had noticed him in the tree, got a box, and put him inside.

The owl was eventually taken to the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in Saugerties, New York. They dubbed the little guy "Rockefeller," for obvious reasons. That being a long name, they called him "Rocky" for short.

"I read the article and started thinking, wow, that would be a great children's book," said Kim Dwyer, a clinical psychologist in Denver, Colorado. "I had lots of other pots on the fire in my professional life, walked away from it, and like the idea just kept coming back. And I think, you know, I also felt, you know, so timely, like, I felt this, this like it, write this, write this now write this book now and get your thoughts out while they're fresh."

Her thoughts turned to Rocky's journey, translated to human feelings.

A Saw-Whet owl doesn't have the low-pitched kind of "hoot" you might think of. It's more like a higher-pitched, as Dwyer writes it, "toot." Not dissimilar from the whine of a saw being sharpened.

The feelings and sounds were put into her first-ever Christmas book, Rocky's Christmas Journey.

Kim Dwyer and Moran Reudor

"There's something there that's emotional," Dwyer said. "And I'm using that as an opportunity to, to talk as basic as like, how are people feeling right now? How do you think you know, the main character, how's Rocky feeling when he finds himself in this tree in the middle of a city, and he's so far away from, you know, where he grew up, or where he decided to build his nest?"

In the end, though, her hope is that parents will help kids realize that they can see themselves in Rocky as well.

"I mean, if you think about it, we could take that story of Rocky, and we could substitute a four-year-old and you're going off to school, and I can remember being that age, and you know, I wasn't particularly thrilled to be going off to school, and a lot of kids feel that way," Dwyer said.

It's more of a fictional account, but one she hopes will connect with kids.

Dwyer isn't alone, the folks at the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center have written their own book for kids. Theirs is a little less fictional, but the same journey. They also sell tree ornaments, clothes, cups and more with Rocky's image on them. Dwyer's book is available at retail stores and online.

The real Rocky, by the way, had a happy ending too, just like the Rocky in Dwyer's book —found and set free. Rocky's came with some help from the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.

The fall foliage season's yellows, oranges, and reds are slowly expanding across the United States. As seen through tree leaves, the change from summer to fall is changing at a different pace due to climate change.

The increasing global temperature creates wetter and warmer areas of the country, which directly impacts the trees and their photosynthesis process.

"September is the most important month for determining the timing and quality of the fall color," said Howard Neufeld, professor of biology at Appalachian State University.

Climate change is extending summer temperatures into September, which alters the fall foliage. A shifting summer season will change the fall season.

"In a future high-CO2 world that is warmer, we may see a longer summer season," said Neufeld.

Higher air temperatures cause the atmosphere to hold more water vapor, leading to more rain in areas.

Neufeld says warmer and wetter weather creates duller red-colored leaves.

The red leaves are what define the beauty of the fall foliage season.

The orange and yellow leaves will always exist because the green of the chlorophyll masks the pigments responsible for those colors during the summer.

Climate change will also change the makeup of the forests and the leaf canopy. The warmer weather will drive some trees to relocate to the north.

There was a similar movement of Florida trees following the retreat of the glaciers.

"They can move — not like in 'Lord of the Rings' where they can walk — but through seed dispersal. If it's too warm in the South, then they'll have to move north," said Neufeld.

As the leaves shift from green to their fall colors, they do so at different time intervals because of the warmer temperatures.

"The intensity of the color is not as great because you don't get all the colors coming up at one time," said Neufeld.

The fall foliage tourism industry is estimated to pump $25 billion to $30 billion into economies across the country each year.

Scott Withers at Newsy first reported this story.

Oklahoma's trees took a beating during October's ice storm. Months later, most of them still show their scars.

Some trees were shaved down to their stumps or pulled out of the ground. But one tree became something else entirely.

Randy Murphy's October ice storm experience was memorable in all the worst ways.

"A lot of branches growing out over the street and over the house. And with the ice, it broke off a lot of the branches," Randy Murphy said. "And it really looked kinda gnarly looking and needed some tender loving care."

But what Murphy did to the giant tree in his front yard is even more memorable for him and anyone driving by – Lady Liberty.

"You know, the flame shining bright. A beacon for all to see," he said.

For Murphy, there's a reason he chose to transform his damaged oak tree into the statue that greeted immigrants arriving on Ellis Island.

"I'm a naturalized citizen. Coming to America means a lot to me. And I just thought that after what we went through last year, it's really still a unifying thing," Murphy said.

The tree doesn't exactly provide the same shade, but it's turning heads. And Murphy said his Statue of Liberty is here to stay.

"A lot of people stop and really like it. Haven't heard from anybody who didn't agree with it," he said.

Murphy didn't carve the Statue of Liberty himself. He hired a chainsaw artist to do the job.

Murphy said he hopes his new artwork outlives him.