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

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Wildlife Center of VA - Barn Owl patient

On Friday, June 1, a woman in Orange County, Virginia walked into an abandoned silo on her property and surprised a brood of sleeping Barn Owls. One of the juvenile owls flew into the side of the silo and crashed into the wall before falling to the ground. The woman carefully collected the owl and brought it to a permitted rehabilitator in her area. After monitoring the juvenile Barn Owl for three days, the rehabilitator noted that the owl did not appear to have any lingering damage as a result of the collision, but she also knew that in order for the owl to completely recover, it would need a much larger space to rehabilitate. The rehabilitator delivered the Barn Owl to the Center’s vice president, Randy Huwa, who then transported the owl to the Center on the morning of Tuesday, June 5.

Upon admission, Barn Owl #12-1152 was examined by Dr. Miranda Sadar. Dr. Miranda found the owl to be a little thin and dehydrated but it was otherwise a healthy bird. Because the owl was observed colliding with a wall, Dr. Miranda carefully examined the owl for signs of head trauma, but found none present; however, she did recommend that the owl’s behavior and attitude be observed closely over the next three days in case any signs of trauma were late to present themselves.

August 13 UPDATE
Barn Owl #12-1152 failed at its first attempts at mouse school. After it did not successfully pass the first three nights of live prey testing, rehabilitator Kelli went back to the regular “dead mouse” feeding plan for a few days. Another round of live prey training will be offered later this week.

Read the full details of this owls days in the rehab since its arrival at the link below
http://www.wildlifecenter.org/wp/2012/06/barn-owl-strikes-silo/