I have some very sad news.
Ten days ago my good friend Nikki Wayment, Executive Director of HawkWatch International, called to (gently) inform me that Galileo had died, I believe the day before. Galileo’s remains were being sent to the state lab in Logan to determine cause of death. Nikki requested that I keep the news under wraps until his cause of death was known.
Yesterday Nikki informed me that the necropsy revealed that Galileo died from chronic liver disease.
It isn’t overstating the case to say that I’m heartbroken. I loved Galileo more than any other bird, ever, and I’ve loved a lot of birds including pet parakeets when I was a young kid, many dozens of fancy pigeons I raised as a pre-teenager and a couple of pet cockatiels as an adult. OK, I did care for one of those cockatiels as much as I did for Galileo, but in a very different way. For me, in part because of the unusual circumstances involved, Galileo was special.
Many of my memories of the day Mia and I rescued him from barbed wire remain as vivid in my mind today as the actual experience was nearly seven years ago when I had to cut him out of the wire in a remote area of Box Elder County. Followers of Feathered Photography know that story well so I won’t repeat it here.
After rehab Galileo couldn’t be released back into the wild so for almost seven years he lived a pampered life as a Raptor Ambassador for HawkWatch International (HWI) here in Salt Lake City. During that time he charmed the pants off of many thousands of people across the Intermountain West during educational presentations sponsored by HWI.
This is Nikki with Galileo at a HWI function I attended some years ago.
I took this photo of Galileo in his mew on one of my visits to see him at HWI. It’s a rather poor quality photo (terrible light) but it’s one of my favorites of him because I think it makes his adorable personality shine through.
Galileo was one of the very few Short-eared Owls in captivity anywhere but that’s only one of the reasons he was special. He’s been described by his handlers and others as sweet, curious, charismatic, handsome and quirky. What’s not to love about that personality combination?
Galileo in his mew at HWI, contemplating his next rodential meal on the ‘grass’ in front of him.
Yesterday HWI published a tribute to Galileo on their blog. Even though I’d known for 10 days that he had died, reading it for the first time last night was an emotional journey for me. If you’d like to at least partially understand why Galileo was so universally loved by those who met him, I suggest you read it too.
Ron
I’ll be honest. I avoided reading this. I knew it would make me sad. RIP indeed, Galileo. Soar high and free.
What a beautiful owl. It must have been a privilege to be the ones to rescue him, and then be able to visit him over the years. So glad he lived a wonderful life and hopefully he contributed to people becoming interested in birding. Sorry for your loss – to both of you. Thanks for sharing his story.
He was beautiful and such a nice tribute to him 💗 I am so sorry…..
“sweet, curious, charismatic, handsome and quirky. What’s not to love about that personality combination?”
Indeed! My kind of bird. 🙂
The story of Galileo’s rescue and rehab is one of my favorites on your blog. Every post about him made me inexplicably happy, knowing this adorable owl was successfully rescued and was now living a pampered life, so today’s post carries a special kind of weight.
I feel a little like how Calvin felt when he found a little racoon barely clinging to life. He and his parents did all they could but it died the next day.
The small comfort they had was the little racoon died safe and warm.
To paraphrase Calvin “I’m crying because out there he’s gone, but he’s not gone inside me… Still…in a sad, awful, terrible way, I’m happy I met him.”
For me, this is a perfect illustration of why wildlife rehabilitation is so important. Not just for the life of the individual animal, but because of the empathy engendered in members of the public who might otherwise never contemplate the life value of a non-human being. “Sweet, curious, quirky” says so much about Galileo’s personality. I hate seeing wild animals live in captivity but Galileo had the best life he could have had under the circumstances, thanks to your and Mia’s efforts and those of HWI. I’ll never forget him.
I’m so sorry for your loss and grateful for the gift the actions of yourself and Mia gave Galileo and the rest of us.
Hi Ron. Have to admit, this business of birds getting hung up on these fences is so awful. When you posted the barn owl incident I was really traumatized to know this probably happens much more than we know.Thank God you and Mia have been in the right place at the right time to save these beautiful creatures just trying to survive. And to that farmer that cut the owl’s wing to save his frickin fence I hope there is a special place in you-know-where for him! I take a lot of comfort in knowing he lived a loving and pampered life as an ambassador. He taught so many about his kind and the many challenges they face. I had no idea owls could get liver disease. If you learn more please update. Sending you a giant hug while you process this loss. 💔
Ron, such sad news. He was very special. 🤍
Galileo was such a handsome fellow with personality to boot. Barbed wire is brutal. I wish it would be banned. (And, who carries wire cutters on a photo shoot?) I am sure he helped thousands to appreciate short-eared owls and all raptors of the night. Galileo was blessed to have been found and rescued by you and Mia.
“who carries wire cutters on a photo shoot?”
I do, Melanie. Two heavy duty pairs of them. You never know when they’ll come in handy, especially during fledging time.
I cried last night when I read the email from HWI, but nothing like I’m crying now upon reading your post about sweet Galileo. Your heartfelt expression of love and caring for a wild bird that came into your life through near-tragic circumstances is a perfect tribute to his purposeful life in captivity. Thinking of the alternative outcome had you and Mia not discovered him when you did, I’m sure Galileo much preferred his life of creature comforts with HWI. ❤️
Sad news and so sorry to hear it. But we can take some solace in knowing you saved it from a terrible fate and that he became such a wonderful ambassador for his kind. Many people benefited from his life and you gave us all the opportunity to know and value this wonderful bird. He will be greatly missed.
Tears here too. I am so sorry, Ron, for your loss of such a deeply beloved and wonderful friend.
Heartbreak! Wonderful memories for you and Mia – and what a great educational contribution Galileo brought to people.
Sorry to hear of his death. I have no idea how long they live in captivity but it looks like not long in the wild from what I have found. You did good to cut him free and WRCNU did their best to heal the injury. Hawkwatch gave him a good life and think of all those lives he touched and possibly made a difference in understanding and change for the good for his own kind.
I’m so sorry to read about Galileo crossing Rainbow Bridge. He was such a remarkable owl. I remember the rescue post (and subsequent posts) like they were yesterday. Thank you and gentle hugs to you, Mia, and HWI for giving him the good quality of life he did have as an ambassador. Even though I never saw him in person, I feel like he was an old friend and am mourning his loss right along with you all. May his memory be a blessing.💙🌈
Everyone, thank you for all the kind words and positive thoughts. They’ve been helping to lift my spirits.
You saved him. He repaid that kindness by giving people a personal connection, awareness, and appreciation to him and the non-human world through HWI and your blog.
Sorrow for many of us. too, Ron. Thanks for your and Mia’s rescue, HWI’s care and handling of him and the positive impact he had on so many people. May he fly free now as he was meant to do. The love lives on on those he touched.
Your love of Galileo was palpable through your words, and you made us rejoice in his rescue and life too. I am so sorry.
Tears here. Thank you for letting us know, and thank you and Mia so very much for rescuing him. He had a number of much loved years he would not have had without you.
Ron, I am so very sorry to hear that your beloved Galileo has passed. Very hard when there is such a connection. I send a hug your way even though you may not be a huggy person!
Sorry to hear Ron. Condolences. You can take comfort in the fact that you rescued this fine bird from a painful and prolonged death, and that Galileo went on to delight, fascinate, and teach others about the wonders of nature. A ‘well done’ to both you and Galileo.
Goodbye, Dear One, you will be missed.
My heart is heavy this morning, Ron. I’m so sorry for your loss, but so grateful that you and Mia brought Gallileo into our lives. HWI does great work. The care and education they provide is priceless. This was just the nudge I needed to click on the DONATE button on their website. 😊
What a shame Ron, but what a wonderful memory that will be with you forever. For me, no FP story topped the one of you rescuing Galileo from that barbed wire fence. That kind of experience binds you together for life. Too bad that rancher who would have allowed him to die on that fence or would have killed him rather than save him never had the chance to read these many posts.
Oh, Ron. As much as we all love and admire the birds we get fleeting glimpses of in the wild, there is nothing that I have experienced like the relationship created with a wild bird in human care through no fault of its own. The trust and respect going both ways is a truly precious gift. And their inevitable loss is devastating. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to you, Mia and HWI.
Oh, Ron. 🙁 I clearly remember when you and Mia found and cut him out of the barbed wire. I am so, so sorry he’s died….and I’m somewhat surprised as well. We both know other raptors that have survived in captivity for literally decades, so this kid’s early death is especially painful. I just want to cry.
I shed a tear for you and Galileo both… I remember the story well.
I read about yesterday and was heartbroken. I never had the opportunity to meet Galileo but I know your story and have seen many pictures. Such a beautiful little owl. I know how much these Wildlife Ambassadors mean to their caregivers and to all the lives they touch. He will be missed.
Thanks for publishing that heartfelt tribute .Some years ago. one often heard
a sappy saying “love means never having to say you’re sorry’—not only is that not true, it fails to reach to the other side of love which is– that having enjoyed
that precious gift, that someday one will also have to bear with grief for its loss . I’m so glad that you were able to save Galileo; through him, you helped pass on your love of birds to so many people who may in turn help save and love
many more creatures of the wild– Galileo’s gift, and yours and Mia’s.
As the article reads, it seems Galileo gave of himself to many viewers his expressions of the great quality of life he was living at HWI and done so with endless generosity. I know someone else who does that too. Offering daily views of beautiful expressions of the quality of life that birds have in the wild, and with endless generosity. Thank YOU Ron, for your dedication to the birds of the wild and for sharing with us. I’m sorry for the passing of your dear friend.
I am so sorry to hear that. It is so hard to lose a friend.
Take Care,
Kaye
A very sad loss. Galileo will be missed.
I’m so sorry, Ron. Both your photo and the HawkWatch tribute are beautiful. Rest in peace, sweet Galileo.
So sorry Ron. What a beautiful tribute here and on the HWI blog. Galileo’s time here was important to educate us about owls and wildlife in general, which these ambassadors do so well. He’s now flying free on a new journey.
WAH! Well HELL! SO sad to hear that Galileo is gone – doesn’t seem like that many years since you found and rescued him. His death is emotional for me also. 🙁 Grateful you shared him with us and I had the opportunity to know him through you – I am better for it.
Big hug of compassion for you Ron!
I’m so sorry Ron. Such sad news. I wish I had been fortunate enough to have met Galileo. He was such a gift to all he touched through HawkWatch, thanks to you and Mia. His personality shines through in your photos above and will live on in the hearts of all who met him. Thank you for introducing Galileo to all of us.
Oh Ron, I am so sorry to hear of his passing. I remember vividly the image you posted of him hanging on that barbed wire fence and how you had to cut him free and later I believe you went back to repair the fence. You brought him into our lives and for that we will be enriched forever.