A progress report on the bird I love more than any other.
Yesterday morning while I was attempting to accomplish other tasks I found myself within a short distance of the headquarters of HawkWatch International so on a whim I decided to pay them an unannounced visit. I had four goals in mind: I have many friends at HWI and I hoped to see some of them because it had been quite a while since my last visit, I wanted to congratulate Nikki Wayment on her recent promotion to Executive Director of HWI, I wanted to purchase another one of their HWI T-shirts and perhaps most of all I wanted to check up on my old friend Galileo the Short-eared Owl.
- I’ve told the story about Galileo’s brush with death before so I won’t do it again because long-time followers of Feathered Photography already know it well. But for those unfamiliar with it here’s a link to documentation of Galileo’s near death experience. If the story is new to you I should mention that his injuries turned out to be serious enough that after rehab he still couldn’t be released back into the wild and that’s how he eventually ended up at HWI as one of their education birds.
This is Galileo yesterday morning on the floor of his mew and seeming to contemplate his next meal (in front of him at lower right). I didn’t want to disturb him unnecessarily so we left him on the floor where he feels very comfortable instead of putting him on the glove. He didn’t have a tail for a very long time after his rehab but he’s looking spectacular right now.
HWI Volunteer Coordinator Nelson Holmes told me that Galileo is working out spectacularly as an education bird. He’s adapted to his pampered existence very well, he’s calm on the glove and his audiences throughout Utah and elsewhere love him. He’s a handsome devil with a beguiling personality and he’s fairly unique as an education bird so I can see why he’s so adored. Nelson said there are very few Short-eared Owls being used as education birds and his audiences respond to him in an appropriate and very positive manner.
HWI feels lucky in that they now have owls of three species in their education bird mews – Kotori the Great Horned Owl, Artemis the Western Screech Owl and now Galileo the Short-eared Owl so they can now offer owl-centered presentations to school kids and other groups. That pleases this retired biology and zoology teacher immensely.
So, how did I do with my four goals stated above during my unannounced visit to HawkWatch?
- Other than Nicki Wayment most of my HWI friends were absent during my visit. I missed seeing HWI Board of Trustees member Mike Shaw (who helped with Galileo’s delivery to rehab – he took time out from Father’s Day to do it) and I have to remember that good friend and HWI volunteer Tana Peery Hunter works in the mews on Wednesdays, not Tuesdays. For some reason I always think it’s Tuesdays.
- I was able to personally congratulate Nikki on her well deserved promotion to Executive Director. In addition she gave me a tour of the beautiful new raptor-centered murals being painted on many of the interior walls of the HWI headquarters. Old friends of HWI have quite a treat in store for them when they make their next visit.
- Yes, I’m the proud owner of a new HWI Bearded Vulture T-shirt. I have other HWI apparel featuring various raptors but this is my first one with a vulture theme.
- As I mentioned above, thanks to the graciousness of Nelson Holmes I had a nice visit with Galileo who is doing very well.
Yes, in a perfect world Galileo would be flying free in the wild again but given what happened to him his new role as an education bird is the next best alternative. And I couldn’t be happier that it was HWI who ended up with him. He very easily could have gone elsewhere.
Ron
He is quite the beauty! So very grateful that you and Mia were in the right place at the right time and knew exactly what to do to start him on his rehab journey. And very grateful for all who have participated and who continue to care for “our” little guy. (I think his tufts are up because he’s worried you’ll nick his mousie-snack.) 😉 Happy you’re starting on your vulture t-shirt collection. 🙂
Ha, he can have his mouse, Marty. I’m not big in the rodent snack department…
Outstanding post Ron. Galileo is beautiful. And those eyes – better than “Bette Davis Eyes.” HWI does such great work especially in rescue and rehabilitation. Galileo looks like he is enjoying his time there.
Thanks, Everett. Yup, I’m a big fan of HawkWatch for a lot of reasons.
I have never forgotten the terrible story of the poor guy’s situation, hiw he was found–and saved. So gkad he’s doing well, now and you got to see him…
Patty, for me being able to visit Galileo is therapy. It reminds me that there are still good people and marvelous critters in the world.
What a wonderful start to my day. Megathanks.
Perhaps (very much tongue in cheek) the farmer came to realise that an owl IS worth more than his fence.
It’s possible he did, EC. I’ve talked to his young wife and she seems to have a head on her shoulders so maybe some of it rubbed off… 🙂
Very good to know the love of your (bird) life is doing well.
BTW, my neighbor showed me this video a while back and your new T-shirt jogged my memory:
My apologies. I didn’t know the link would show up like that. For clarification, The Bearded Vulture is eating bones.
No problem, Lyle. Some time ago WordPress changed their settings so links often shot up like that.
I think they’re handsome vultures. They’re famous for dropping larger bones onto rocks from great heights to crack them open.
Beautiful bird Lyle, thank you!
Lyle, I loved the link! So much fun to have Carmina Burana (or shall I say, Carnivora Birdana 😉 ) as the music.
Wonderful report! He is a handsome owl!
He sure is, April. A lady killer!
OMG, Ron!! What a very special blog today!! So glad of the very positive update on Galileo!! What a handsome Devil he has grown up to be. Of course he would no longer be with us if it wasn’t for the rescue you & Mia initiated thru to HWI’s work to bring him to where he is today!! Definitely a win-win story!!
Thanks, Jo Ann. It turned out as well as it possibly could.
And by the way, it’s been over three years now since I cut the barbed wire to free Galileo and the fence STILL hasn’t been repaired even though one of the ranchers obviously wasn’t happy that I had cut it “just for an owl” and I offered to pay for the repair.
Galileo is drop dead gorgeous! 🙂 What a wonderful, continuing story for him! 🙂 So many aren’t as lucky as he has been other than his encounter with the barbed wire… That “Bearded Vulture” shirt is cool……..;) Certainly a different bird. Follow up on Vertigo yesterday as it had stalled and symptoms told me rocks in my ears wasn’t “it”. Nasty sinus infection SO heavy duty antibiotics for 10 days. Kings X!
King’s X indeed! You need a break, Judy!
Always a joy to get an update on Galileo! Thanks, Ron, for giving him a second chance!
Thanks, Diane but it wasn’t just me. Many others were involved including Mia, Mike Shaw and all the folks at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah (WRCNU) who worked so hard to rehab him.
I wish I could have seen you! I was actually there later that day as I had to do a training with a brand new volunteer in the afternoon. But I’m glad that Galileo is looking so good, and that you have my favorite shirt!
I missed seeing you too, Tana. And I deeply appreciate all the work you and others do with Galileo and the rest of your education birds. My experience visiting the mews quite a few times in the last few years gives me more appreciation for how much work is actually involved. It’s a LOT!
He certainly is a beauty! Love those little tufts atop his head…many times in the wild I’m not able to capture those or perhaps will only get one of them. looks like he’s telling you ‘They feed me well here!’
Kathy, when he raises his hear tufts he’s even cuter! But in my experience with him at HWI he doesn’t do it very often because he’s so comfortable there.