While it’s not unusual to have a multitude of songbirds during baby season, they’re small and don’t take up a whole lot of space. No, it’s the raptors who create space issues, and never more so than during the winter, when more adult raptors than normal seem to end up in rehab because of run-ins with vehicles.
And boy, did the owls in particular have a rough week this week…
Early in the week, a red-phase screech owl came in after being found in the road. X-rays and an exam at Smalley’s Animal Hospital confirmed that he had no fractures, just a really bad headache and possibly a bruised wing.
And boy, did the owls in particular have a rough week this week…
Early in the week, a red-phase screech owl came in after being found in the road. X-rays and an exam at Smalley’s Animal Hospital confirmed that he had no fractures, just a really bad headache and possibly a bruised wing.
Look at that eyeball--you can even see the eyelids!
Later in the week, another screech came in, also a red-phase, also found in the road, and also suffering from a massive concussion.
And two barred owls also came in, both found in or near the road.
And now you’re asking, “What is it with these birds hunting near roads?” Well, we have sloppy, sorry, trashy humans to thank for that: people toss out their trash—apple cores and food wrappers and such—and rodents feast on the refuse. Wherever rodents cluster, they’ll attract predators. Diurnal raptors, i.e., hawks, are easier to spot but can still be hit by cars as they chase prey across a road or attempt to fly away with struggling prey in their talons. Nocturnal raptors, i.e., owls, are harder to spot, seeming to come from nowhere right into the path of the car in pursuit of their supper. Honestly, most often in car v. raptor, the raptor loses—in a big way. These four birds were lucky in that all seem to have only concussions. Barred 1 does have some lingering blood in his left eye, consistent with a concussion, and the other just looks to have a concussion, but they’ll both have vet exams next week, as will Screech 2, to make sure we don’t have luxated lenses or detached retinas; right now, however, all looks promising for all four owls to be released in short order.
As for the “old-timers,” the red-tail, red-shoulder and barred owl recovering from wing fractures are all alert, active and getting close to time for follow-up exams to determine how much, if any, healing has occurred. The crow also continues to do well, and the kestrel’s transfer to the raptor flight was delayed by lingering cold weather this week. Temps are supposed to be more seasonal and moderate next week, so after the screech and barred quartet has been flight-tested (no, not all four at once; barreds will happily EAT screeches!)—and possibly released—the kestrel will take up residence in the raptor flight to regain his strength and, we hope, his flight capability. No new photos of the old-timers this week; I mean, how many different ways can you photograph a bird in a box?
And just a while ago, a call came in about another great blue heron, which is en route as I work on this update—more on him next week.
The flyers are cute as ever—no photos of them this week; instead, a video of one of the little rascals eating and checking out the camera!
As for the “old-timers,” the red-tail, red-shoulder and barred owl recovering from wing fractures are all alert, active and getting close to time for follow-up exams to determine how much, if any, healing has occurred. The crow also continues to do well, and the kestrel’s transfer to the raptor flight was delayed by lingering cold weather this week. Temps are supposed to be more seasonal and moderate next week, so after the screech and barred quartet has been flight-tested (no, not all four at once; barreds will happily EAT screeches!)—and possibly released—the kestrel will take up residence in the raptor flight to regain his strength and, we hope, his flight capability. No new photos of the old-timers this week; I mean, how many different ways can you photograph a bird in a box?
And just a while ago, a call came in about another great blue heron, which is en route as I work on this update—more on him next week.
The flyers are cute as ever—no photos of them this week; instead, a video of one of the little rascals eating and checking out the camera!
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