SNN (ScrollingNetworkNews) ✿ ✿ Our Mel and Sydney returned to their nesting box with plenty of bonding occurring..but after 2.5 months of Sydney in the box from Dec 2013 to mid Feb 2014, the lack of prey gifts from Mel ( perhaps due to the severe and historic drought underway in California)and they have forgone the nesting process this year as many other raptors ✿ Compared to other owls of similar size, the Barn Owl has a much higher metabolic rate, requiring relatively more food. Pound for pound, Barn Owls consume more rodents – often regarded as pests by humans – than possibly any other creature. ✿ We remind viewers that sometimes owlets may not survive - the parents will dispose of things in "The Owl Way" -viewer discretion is advised, this is nature and the "Owl way". ✿ ~ ✿ “Animals, like us, are living souls. They are not things. They are not objects. Neither are they human. Yet they mourn. They love. They dance. They suffer. They know the peaks and chasms of being.” ― Gary Kowalski, The Souls of Animals ✿ Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius." ~ E.O. Wilson

Friday, August 12, 2011

Orphaned barn owls finally fledge in the UK


As we have seen with the success of the orphaned owlets “Nancy & Greg” at the Buddy and Fluffy box here in Escondido, San Diego county, more and more rehab faculties are fostering out owlets (that have fallen out of their nest or had their nest destroyed) to other nest that have the same age owlets.
“As long as they are compatible with the age of their existing chicks barn owl parents will just accept foster chicks as their own.” The use of surrogate parents is quite common these days and has been a very successful operation when raising young orphans within wildlife facilities and now with owls in the wild.
There are many hunting and flying skills that owlets need to learn to live successfully in the wild. As thorough as any wildlife expert can be in preparing raptors for release,  there is simply no substitute for the real thing.
 If this real life barn owl adoption fairy tale touches you in any way, please consider making a donation to the Wildlife nonprofit in your city. They truly are Wildlife angels !
Read the story on the UK owlets news article:
http://www.creweguardian.co.uk/news/9188332.Orphaned_barn_owls_finally_fledge/
Read the story on Nancy & Greg owlets at the Buddy & Fluffy site:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-buddy-and-fluffy-barn-owl-show