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, December 4, 2012

Rare owl released back into wild

COOPERSVILLE, Mich. (WZZM) -- A rare owl that was found near death in a Coopersville barn was released back into the wild last Friday afternoon. The barn owl, thought not to exist in Michigan, was found inside Bruce and Laura Conrad's barn, back in June. The family took the owl to Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids, to be treated. A veterinarian determined the bird had ingested rat poison.

After six months of rehab it was released near the home where it was found. Sam Smith and Lori Lomoro from Blandford worked with the bird. "We weren't sure if we caught it in time, or what was going to happen, but he bounced right back," says Smith. "It's pretty amazing how far he came from where he was to what we saw today. Absolutely amazing." 

"It's awesome to see he made it," says Lomoro. "We haven't seen him make noise like that". "It's cool, he didn't make noise then," says Bruce Conrad. The owl appeared to have no trouble flying once he was released.
The hope is that he finds a mate and starts to rebuild the population of barn owls in Michigan.


Hover mouse over bottom left side of video to click to view