They showed up without a reservation, took up residence on the 11th-floor concierge balcony, and management of the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel doesn't give a hoot.

The baby barn owls, however, do. Lots of hoots, which are answered daily by their parents who reside in a different location away from the Marriott. Mommy and Daddy come by with snacks for their brood.

Named Hoot, Nanny, Al, Peter Townsend, Robert Plant, Hedwig and Archimedes by staff, the owlets have the run of the their little home. The hotel has no plans to move the freeloaders, even when every room is booked.

In fact, staff are handing out stuffed owls.

Barn owls are protected native birds of prey and have a habit of returning to the same nest year after year, so there's a chance that they'll book the same balcony in 2013.
 

— Gay Nagle Myers