Honestly, y’all, this weather…we’re under a wind advisory, with gusts that’ll rip your hat off and push you sideways, while Parts North appear to be having a blizzard…and this after a week of springlike weather. Unfortunately, said springlike weather involved rain every third or fourth day, so the poor barnie’s still awaiting release. In the meantime, LWR had three new intakes over the past two weeks.
The first, a screech, was found in Laurens County. On intake, his right pupil was dilated and unresponsive and his left eye was swollen shut. As of this morning, the swelling in the left eye has gone down. It’s looking pretty trashed, and I probably should go ahead and call it on the fierce little fellow. While owls can successfully hunt with only one eye, the looks of that eye indicate release isn’t gonna be an option. He’s locating his food with no issues, but the injury will most likely cause long-term health issues for the bird. We’ll wait a bit longer before making a decision.
The first, a screech, was found in Laurens County. On intake, his right pupil was dilated and unresponsive and his left eye was swollen shut. As of this morning, the swelling in the left eye has gone down. It’s looking pretty trashed, and I probably should go ahead and call it on the fierce little fellow. While owls can successfully hunt with only one eye, the looks of that eye indicate release isn’t gonna be an option. He’s locating his food with no issues, but the injury will most likely cause long-term health issues for the bird. We’ll wait a bit longer before making a decision.
Next was a barred from Burke County, whose head trauma appears to’ve resulted in total blindness. This may or may not resolve itself, as y’all know from previous concussion-related blindness in birds.
And last was yet another barred from Liberty County with a badly fractured right wing. He required euthanasia.
And as I mentioned at the outset, the barnie is SO ready to go—and I’m almost as eager as he is for a release, but we’ve got to have several days of decent weather first.
Readers in Parts North, stay in and stay warm; fellow Southrons, try not to get blown off the map in this wind.
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