From A Sound Like Water Dripping: In Search of the Boreal Owl, published by Gaspereau Press in 2009.

When Granny made a mess it was a major cleanup, but Kay being Kay did on occasion let Granny fly free in the house in the evenings. The evening I brought the young Boreals over was one of these. Granny was possessive of Kay and as Granny sat on the back of a chair across from me in the living room, she kept an eye on me and moved her head from side to side like a belly dancer. Initially I found this disconcerting, but Granny did not move from her perch so I eventually ignored her.

After an hour or so Granny suddenly took flight towards me. At first I thought she was just moving to another perch. I should have known better, for Granny looked me straight in the eye as she approached. I had no time to react as she swung her feet forwards and hit me in the face, her talons spread out for maximum impact. I had eight needle-sharp punctures that miraculously missed my eyes. I was in shock. Kay was in shock.

Granny was immediately put in her cage and I went off to wash and disinfect my injuries. The blow was so hard it gave me a headache.