There’s nothing like a visual for reassurance that this little owl is doing ok.
Regular readers will recall that I had to cut this barely fledged young Short-eared Owl out of barbed wire two months ago in Box Elder County, Utah. It’s left wing was badly mangled so it was delivered to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah (WRCNU) in Ogden where it’s been ever since. I apologize to readers who are sensitive to this kind of graphic image (I’ve posted this one before) but I felt it necessary to include it for context for readers who never saw the original post.
It was touch and go for this little owl for some time and many readers have asked me to keep them appraised of its progress. I thought a current photograph of the bird in rehab would be reassuring.
Copyright WRCNU – Image used by permission
Yesterday I received this image of the owl from Buz Marthaler, Chairman and Co-Founder of WRCNU (the photo was taken this week). The bird looks perky, inquisitive and healthy. And I’m also glad to see that the injured wing appears to be held in a normal position. Buz included the following update in his email:
- “Sadly, due to the tendon injury to its left wing this Short-eared Owl will not be releasable. Instead WRCNU will locate a licensed educational organization where it will be provided a quality life in captivity while providing conservation education to the local community where it will live. “He/she” is eating very well on his own, very eager to pounce on the food provided each day and due to his young age we expect he will adapt very quickly to his new life.”
Overall I think the news is good. Yes, I’d have much preferred that the owl was releasable back into the wild but it survived, is healthy and will lead a pampered life as it promotes issues of conservation. Alternative outcomes for this bird were much worse than that.
The more I learn about rehab facilities like WRCNU the more impressed I am by their good works and the dedication and selflessness of their staffs. At WRCNU for example most of their work is volunteer (dozens of trained volunteers and only 1 paid staffer) and they rely completely on donations and small grants for funding. It’s a huge challenge. WRCNU spends over $65,000 annually just for food for injured critters. If you’re interested here’s a video clip a local television station did recently about their work.
I thought they deserved the plug.
Ron
A big thank you to the WRCNU and to you and Mia. In an ideal world this charmer would be flying free, but the world ISN’T ideal and this is so much better than it could have been. And looked like being.
Thanks, EC. Mia and I have several hours of our time (and our hearts) invested in this bird but WRCNU’s contribution dwarfs ours. They get the bulk of the credit and deservedly so.
And they couldn’t have done their sterling work without you and Mia in this instance. You were the first steps.
🙂
Thank you Ron!
And thanks to you and your dedicated staff at WRCNU for all you do, Buz!
Regarding supporting your local rehab centers, if you shop on Amazon.com, consider shipping through Smile.Amazon.com and select your local rehab center as your charity. If the item you purchase is marked “eligible for AmazonSmile donation”, a portion of the purchase goes to the charity of your choice. The portion is only 0.5%, but hey these things can add up to substantial sums! Some grocery stores have a similar program. For example, our local Kroger chain in Utah, Smith’s, lets you select a charity (Smith’s Community Rewards). For all the local Utahns, WRCNU participates in both AmazonSmile and Smith’s Community Rewards. Easy way to “donate” to these vital organizations.
Excellent suggestions, Kiersten. Thanks for providing them to my readers.
Great job Ron, congratulations!
As many become enraptured with technology, becoming acquainted with a real live large bird is so important for their and our connection to the life around us. Many thanks to these rehab centers and the educational organizations that pamper the less fortunate and provide this retouch to what lives around us.
You’re right, Dick – there’s nothing like a “real live bird” up close to make a huge impression.
Thank you Ron and Mia. And as always thank you WRCNU for you devotion and hard work. Baby Bird season is almost over!
I hope your work load at WRCNU slows down significantly very soon, April, for your sake and for the sake of the critters you care for.
So glad this little guy is on the mend. Thank you for the rescue and thank you to WRCNU for all their efforts. As I was reading your article I couldn’t help think how lucky we are to have these rehabs and the wonderful people who give so much to our critter friends.
Yup, we’re lucky to have them and so are their patients, Sarah.
Great work Ron! Congrats!!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
I now have a favorite charity! Thanks Ron for your education, teaching and daily entertainment. I miss having you pop into my classroom, but I don’t miss the politics of teaching at all.
Brenda, I still think of you often as I drive by your old school, especially in springtime (and voting time). I hope you’re enjoying your retirement as much as I do mine.
I hope people reading this will support their local center, the benefits outweigh everything. Being a member of Cascades Raptor Center here in Eugene, Oregon my wife and I have learned so much, to be able to see up close, the beauty of them, then to go and see them in the wild and when you spot a raptor you know what it is, just not an owl, etc. The eyes always draws me to them.
Steven, thanks for the plug for rehab centers. I’m a huge fan of CRC and its director Louise Shimmel.
Me too and I’ve got Cascades Raptor Center as a beneficiary of my Smile.Amazon account, so every time I buy another book, Cascades gets another small donation. And I’ve got a book budget again! YEE HAW!
Nice news to wake up to. You should post they’re website for making donations to.
Marina here is the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah (WRCNU) webpage.
http://www.wrcnu.org/
You can also follow on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Wildlife-Rehabilitation-Center-of-Northern-Utah-163724043673090/?fref=ts
You’re right, Marina. I meant to include the link but I was in such a hurry to make it to Bear River by dawn that I just forgot to do it. I’ve now added the link to the body of my text.
Good News!:) Even if it isn’t possible to release the owl it could have been MUCH worse. Thx for sharing the update, Ron. 🙂
Thank you, Judy.
Hi Ron
Thanks for the update.
His eyes and body posture makes me think he is thankful to you.
That’s a nice thought, Nikhil. Who knows…
Having worked extensively in educational programs holding a real raptor on my fist, I can tell you that they make a HUGE difference in the world as ambassadors to the wild. That’s especially true when the birds go into schools. There’s almost never a kid who isn’t utterly fascinated and deeply touched. It’s one golden moment when even the coolest kids who try to be bored just can’t quite pull it off! While it’s not the best outcome, the good thing about raptors who find their way into rehab as young juveniles is that this life is their normal. They don’t know of a different life so they adapt to captivity quickly and easily–especially the regularly-catered meals part.
Thank you (and Mia) for rescuing this kiddo! And really big thanks also to WRCNU. Rehab organizations do terrific work, generally on a frayed financial shoestring, so if you’ve got some extra cash lying around collecting dust and you can spare it, PLEASE consider sending a donation to your favorite rehab organization. They will all appreciate your gift!
“I can tell you that they make a HUGE difference in the world as ambassadors to the wild”
They sure do, Laura. I used to have education birds brought to my zoology classes and they always made a tremendous impression on my kids. Some of them remember those birds to this day.
He/She looks wonderful and I’m so happy it survived. I know it will be a good ambassador. Maybe it will inspire some brilliant young person to find a viable alternative to barbed wire fencing–one ranchers can live with.
Sharon, I’d be surprised if this little guy didn’t inspire a lot of young folks in a variety of positive ways. Sure hope so.
Your SEO is looking really good, and seems to have a great personality. I’m sure it will be a huge help in educating people. It has put a big smile on my face. I am so glad that you and Mia rescued it. The video part of the article wouldn’t load for me, but I read the written part. I, too, appreciate the dedication rehab volunteers have to the animals they care for. I would imagine that it would be very difficult, though often rewarding.
Susan, I’m sorry the clip wouldn’t load for you. I just tried it and it worked fine.
Thank you for the update. It does look healthy and inquisitive. I agree with you, too bad it can’t be re-released, but at least we know the Owl will never get caught in wire again. Thank goodness you were there, and rescued the cutie.
Good point about never being caught in wire again, Jean.
Wonderful, Ron. Thanks!
🙂
Thank you…. CJ
You’re very welcome, CJ.