Are there any tips on what to do when one sees a bird that is in need of
immediate help? I wonder if the Trinity College quadrangle owl, for
instance, could have been saved
if those of us who saw it had realized it was injured.
On Saturday, January 8, 2005, at 01:18 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
The following are excerpts from a posting made on our local bird board
by a bird rehabilitator with many years of experience. Due to the fact
that our windfall of arctic owls here in Southern and Central Ontario
has been triggered by lack of food/ starvation in the owls' normal
territorial range, it may be of interest to Ontbirds subscribers who are
concerned about the welfare of these birds.
Dan Burton,
Gravenhurst
HOW TO IDENTIFY OWLS IN
DISTRESS
FROM JANICE ENRIGHT, A WING AND A PRAYER, MUSKOKA CENTRE FOR WILD BIRDS
1. The eyes become slits (best seen at dawn and dusk). The slitty-eyed
look does not change when approached by humans. The owl does not seem
interested in its surroundings.
2. The owl has an unnatural puffiness under the neck and around the back
while sitting on its perch. Its shape is more rounded and humped over
than erect and alert.
3. If the owl is at a low level and does not fly away when approached,
you should consider this a strong sign of distress. Watch this bird
closely. Any bird that does not fly for 1-2 days is probably in severe
distress and needs immediate help.
Keep animals such as dogs and cats away from the bird. They may also
stress the bird and cause further deterioration.
While viewing these birds, be respectful regarding the distance you
maintain. If you are, for instance, any closer than 100 feet to a great
gray owl, you are too close. These birds require three or four 40gram
rodents daily and if a person (friend or foe - it doesn't know the
difference) is closer than 100 feet this may well inhibit its hunting
routine causing it to miss valuable meals. During the winter months,
this can become a serious problem. Lets enjoy nature first by showing
our respect.
Remember that there is a critical weight loss for these birds and once
that is reached, nothing can be done to save them.
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Kathryn Mills
Toronto
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
