A Victoria boy is basking in the glow of a new passion and some internet fame thanks to a visit from a barred owl.

Tyson Hockley, 12, would typically spend his summer off from Glanford Middle School pitching for his Little League team and hanging out with friends, but the COVID-19 pandemic put a wrench in those plans, with the 2020 Little League Canadian Championships cancelled and physical distancing limiting group hangouts.

But the preteen found an outlet for the sudden hole in his summer. Tyson started filming YouTube videos for his channel, Tyson Hockley B次元官网网址� sharing everything from a room-cleaning time lapse and B次元官网网址渄estroying stuff with a sledgehammerB次元官网网址� to videos of himself exploring Shawnigan Lake and trying out SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Pacific Ninja Gym.

B次元官网网址淎s soon as I hit that record button I get into the YouTube zone,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓verything seems to flow pretty nicely, I hardly ever have to take retakes.B次元官网网址�

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A video featuring a barred owl significantly elevated the young YouTuberB次元官网网址檚 viewership. Sitting in the passenger seat on his way out to Quarry Park in North Saanich, Tyson introduces the clip by telling viewers he would be getting some B次元官网网址渞eally cool, close-up shots.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭odayB次元官网网址檚 going to be an awesome video,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淧robably one of my best ones yet.B次元官网网址�

Playing owl calls from a portable speaker, Tyson recorded a barred owl that watched him from a branch before swooping into the frame and landing on the speaker.

B次元官网网址淚t was amazing cause IB次元官网网址檝e actually never seen an owl before in my whole life,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 went from never seeing an owl to one being right in front of me, so that was pretty cool.B次元官网网址�

Tyson shared the video with Right This Minute, a viral videos channel, and soon more than 7,200 viewers had watched his owl encounter.

Tyson says anyone who wants to view birds up close should do their own research before heading out into nature, as some birds are agitated or distracted by the calls.

B次元官网网址淚 think in some cases it could have an impact on the birds. But I think this owl was curious and playful.B次元官网网址�

Tyson said baseball practice recently restarted and heB次元官网网址檒l be heading back to school when possible, but he wonB次元官网网址檛 abandon his YouTube channel. He hopes to end the summer with 1,000 subscribers.

B次元官网网址淚 can only imagine how hard itB次元官网网址檚 going to be when my day is consumed by school, but IB次元官网网址檓 going to try.B次元官网网址�

His next video focuses on harbour seals and their pups at FishermanB次元官网网址檚 Wharf in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to try doing a little bit of everything. I donB次元官网网址檛 want to have a niche, I donB次元官网网址檛 want to be restricted to what content I can make. Pretty much whatever I think is cool IB次元官网网址檓 going to record it and put it on my YouTube channel.

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