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For owls that are superb.
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Photo by Joshua Wiley
The other week, when I was in Utah, I visited a very famous park. It was hot, really hot. This park had a gift shop, but the gift shop was just a garage bay, without air-conditioning, in one of the headquarters support buildings.
When I visited, I asked a very nice but very hot lady, who was manning the gift shop, if she knew of any good locations for Burrowing Owls, (Athene cunicularia). Unsolicited, she explained that there were actually three Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) roosting during the day in a hay barn around the corner. (The hay is for feeding Bison and Pronghorn in winter.)
Very excitedly, I went and paid a brief and respectful visit to these avatars of Athena. Two of the owls were awake and active. A third was tucked against a wall and sleeping. To me, getting close to such big, beautiful owls in good light was very special. I hope, though, that they are not often disturbed by eager birders or scheming photogs.
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Photo by Patty Dexter
There's been quite the number of young Saw Whets shared here recently, but I think the adults are just as cute!
I like this little one's distant gaze.
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This is the little Screech Owl that lives near my work. He seems to be having a very heavy molt. Otis is a shy guy, but he usually makes little owl noises at me. I may have to pay him a visit again if he's looking this funky!
From Upper Schuylkill Valley Park
Think you're having a bad hair day? Well, just take a look at our resident Screech Owl, Otis!
Otis is currently molting his feathers and has lost a good amount of feathers on his head!
Molting is when birds shed old worn-out feathers to replace them with new fresh feathers, often to prepare for seasonal changes.
Some birds molt more gracefully than others. In a few weeks Otis will be back to being his fully feathered handsome self, but for now he's in a balding awkward stage (but we still think he's handsome)!
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This big beautiful girl came to us yesterday and has what am almost certain is a broken left humerus. We always like to get confirmation with an x-ray but our avian vet was unable to fit us in today.
This is the downfall of being a rehabber...you can't always get into a vet quickly. Most of the time we are able to diagnose and treat these birds ourselves, but as with anything if I am even slightly on the fence about a diagnosis, I don't hesitate to have a veterinarian confirm.
If this is what suspect, and the break is on the joint this bird will have a grim outcome. It has been a rough season for us. We have had some very sick birds come to us and many have had to be euthanized or passed away before we could euthanize. I am hoping I am wrong about this one because she is mean and hateful which equals a force to be reckoned with in nature.
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I thought this might be something worthwhile to do. I already have at least one rehab per state, and a few international ones that I follow, so with some of you becoming interested in supporting the owls directly recently, I thought it may be helpful to make an all-in-one resource for the owls.
I can break them out by location, and have if you can visit, how you can get in contact with them, donation links so you can support who services your area, and if they have an online store for owl merch.
I got started using Google Sheets, but before I got too far, I wanted to see if that was the best way to do this. Is this going to be usable for the most number of people, or should I do the list some other way? Do these items seem to cover everything you'd want to know or am I missing something? I felt this was pretty full coverage, without having to break down everything, like if they have a Chewy wishlist in addition to an Amazon list, you can still find it on the donation page, or you can get the street address from their main website, etc.
I don't think there is any resource like this out there. Finding some of these places was difficult for me doing the 50 States of Owls, so this could be an important resource with benefit outside of Lemmy even.
Let me know your thoughts on how we can best do this or if you know a facility near you that you want to see on the list.
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Photo by Wolfgang Kippes
The caption called this a sperlingskauz, which was translated to "Sparrow Owl."
I'd never heard of a Sparrow Owl, but the EPO has a scientific name that is Latin for "Sparrow Owl" that I will assume is how it got its German name.
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From The UM Raptor Center
Have you ever seen an owl get a bath? This barred owl got into a sticky situation when their wing feathers became glued to their head feathers!
When giving a bird a bath, it's crucial to maintain their normal body temperature as they could lose heat rapidly when thoroughly wet. We made sure the water temperature was just right and kept the bath short.
Since the bird was anesthetized (anesthesia was administered through a tube in the owl's airway), we monitored the owl's breathing and heart rate with a stethoscope throughout. The bathing process involved three steps: the first was to use a small amount of Goo Gone" to break down the glue residue that covered the owl's feathers.
Next was a proper lathering using a safe Dawn"-like soap solution, massaging out the goo, and rinsing thoroughly. Lastly, it was time for a blow dry.
During the blow-drying phase, our priority once again was to maintain the owΔΎ's body temperature to ensure it did not drop or elevate too high with all that warm air.
Our sticky feathered friend is now on the road to recovery!
I wonder how this little one got stuck. Glue trap perhaps?
It's crazy how it can be dangerous to get a bath.
Video at the link above, or GIF below. This vid was longer so I was limited to 5 fps π
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Some more adventures of yesterday's GHO in a cast:
Photo by Hoo's Woods
When administering fluids and medications, we often do what's called a "Burrito Wrap" using a towel to help keep the bird calm, comfortable, and secure. Here's Ixonia, about to get her daily treatment. Notice the Great Horned Owl "attitude"- we love attitude!
As many of you know, we often name the birds after the locations where they are found. In light of Ixonia's name, we grew curious about the origin of the town's unique title. Here's what we learned: In the mid-19th century, residents of the newly formed town in Jefferson County couldn't agree on a name. To resolve this, they decided to draw letters at random and create a name from them, resulting in "lxonia." It remains the only town with this distinctive name in the United States. Very unique, just like lxonia the owl. Thank you for your continued support!
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Photo by Cynthia Rand
I have seen some amazing moments watching young Owls fledge and try to navigate life outside their nests. But one of my favorite was when this little Barred Owl came up short trying to fly to a nearby tree. And it's not what he did that makes this situation so memorable, but what his mother did.
She watched from a nearby branch as her fledgling hung upside down unable to pull himself up. The poor little guy was calling out in a panic as he was slowly spinning around holding on with one talon wrapped around a skinny branch. His mom knew that he could let go and he would fall down gently to the leaves below and be fine, but HE didn't know that.
Wanting to help him out of his dilemma, Mom flew by giving him a gentle nudge to encourage him to let go. But he didn't let go, he just kept clinging to the branch spinning around even faster after getting bumped. But this mother Owl wasn't giving up, she flew by a second time nudging him again. This time he let go, and he fell to the ground safely! It wasn't long before he scrambled back up a new tree and was ready to give flying another try.
I've really been impressed with the diligent and patient parenting I have seen in the bird and animal world.
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Photo by Hoo's Woods
"Ixonia' Great Horned Owl update. We received numerous calls from concerned motorists about this very large female Great Horned Owl sitting motionless by the side of the road near the city of Ixonia BP Gas Station.
Thankfully, a dedicated worker from lxonia Utility safely contained her and assisted with transport. Ixonia is in very serious condition, as she was struck by a vehicle sustaining a significant concussion, a fractured wing, and is favoring her right side.
She spent the first 24 hours in Oxygen, and is now standing. Her prognosis is guarded, and recovery is long term.
We are currently experiencing another influx of patient admissions, including cases of West Nile virus, rodenticide poisoning, vehicle strikes, and illegal shooting. These cases demand extensive resources, including medical supplies, medication, substantial amounts of food, transportation, and more. ask for your support to consider making a donation via Paypal to help us continue our work. We have also updated our Amazon wishlist to reflect our current needs.
Reminder, we receive no state or federal funding and rely entirely on public support. Together, we can give birds like Ixonia a second chance. Thank you!
I left the gift link in as some of you said you were fine with that. I looked at the list, and most things are under $10 or $20, so it doesn't take much to make a difference!
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Photos by Christopher Forslund
When it comes to wildlife photography, two elements can transform a good photo into a compelling image: eye contact and great light.
Waiting for that moment of eye contact can create a powerful connection between the subject and the viewer, bringing a sense of intimacy and personality to the image. It's as if the animal is sharing a secret, inviting you into its world.
Combine that with the magic of great light, and you have the perfect recipe for a stunning photograph. The right light can highlight textures, enhance colors, and create dramatic shadows, adding depth and dimension to your shot.
Next time you're out in the field, be patient and wait for that perfect moment. It's worth it!
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Photo by Summer Beeler
You never know who's in the woods watching....
Great Grey Owl.
Sax Zim Bog, MN.
February 2024
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From Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
As the clean-up and assessment of Hurricane Debby's impact continues, we are also encountering displaced, injured, or abandoned wildlife. One such case is that of a Great Horned Owl that was brought to us during the worst part of the storm. The owl was cold, rain-soaked, and had two infected wounds on its head requiring immediate medical attention. After receiving care in a warm incubator and necessary fluids, the owl is on the path to a full recovery.
As we are handling a high volume of wildlife calls, we assure you that we will respond promptly. It is crucial to remember not to provide food or water to any animal, and refrain from administering medical treatment or medications. Doing so could exacerbate the situation and pose a threat to the animal's well-being, potentially leading to its demise.
I thought this was a Screech as I was scrolling through! The water has really matted down its feathers.
It has the Barred Owl frown on as well.
