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

Monday, July 9, 2012

A light Shoulder


This red shouldered hawk was struck by a car a couple of days ago and was having difficulty breathing when it arrived. She's feeling much better today, but still not feeling well enough to eat on her own. This red-shouldered is unusual because her coloring is much lighter than our local red-shouldered hawks. These light colored hawks are usually found in Florida, but the rehab center has two this summer. If they came up there to avoid the heat, I'm afraid they are out of luck! Though this hawk is missing the red chest we usually see on mature red-shouldered, you can tell it's an adult.
Can you tell how we know?

Well its the eyes..
Her dark brown eyes tell us she is a mature adult bird. Immature red-shouldered have a yellow iris that begins to turn brown in their second year.