April
21, 2004 - owls in need
A few days
ago, volunteer Caroline Rogers found this young Great Horned
Owl hiding under a lupine bush in Pajaro Dunes.
Caroline called our expert bird rescuer, Trish Wilson, who took
over care of the bird (as we have previously seen her do with
a Bushtit chick,
an adult Barn Owl,
and a Red-breasted Sapsucker).
Did you notice the damaged eye? Trish thinks this bird would
have a hard time learning to hunt with just one eye (whereas
an adult that had already learned to hunt might be able to successfully
adapt). She is looking for a home for this bird.
Trish tries
to minimize the contact a rescued bird has with humans. She
called me to let me know she was going to "hydrate"
the bird so I could get a chance for some photos.
A look
at its talons, which Trish carefully avoids.
Just a
few days later, visitors to the Reserve found this Barn Owl
chick on the ground below the first nest box in the big barn.
Once again, Trish to the rescue.
The sound
you hear in this short clip is not static - it's the hiss (which
has been likened to "angry root beer") that the owl
chick makes to scare off predators. Owl specialists call the
threat display of lowered head swinging side to side "toe
dusting."
Once again,
it's hydratin' time.
A little
wobbly on its feet, but none the worse for wear. This chick
was returned to its nest two
days later.
