So, I know most of you wouldn't celebrate rescuing an owl but where I live, I would much rather have the owls around than the ravens. Anyways, here's the story...
It started snowing here on Sunday so there is a nice dusting of white stuff on the ground. I took my daughter to the bus yesterday bright and early. Ok, so it wasn't bright but it was early. When I came back home, I decided to go back to bed for a couple of hours. I was rudely awoken about 45 minutes into my nap by those dang ravens screaming and carrying on. I looked out the window and saw two up in a tree next to my chick pen with a third sitting on the ground in front of the chick pen with a pile of feathers at its feet. I could have sworn I saw the feathers move. I ran out the door in my crocs grabbing my jacket as I went. I was thinking to myself "Crap!! They got one of my ducks!". Well, the ravens departed the area quickly (but didn't go far) and I walked up to the pile of feathers. It was moving (good sign - maybe). I thought it was odd that my net that I use to catch my birds was laying on the ground and the injured (?) bird was on top of it. As I approached, I realized that those big yellow eyes staring at me didn't belong to any of my ducks or any of my other birds for that matter. It was a Great Horned Owl. From what I can gather, he attempted to make a meal of some of my quail but got foiled by the cages they are in and managed to run "afowl" of my net. By this time, my crocs were full of snow and my feet were getting cold. I ran back into the house, swapped my crocs for boots, and grabbed my thick gloves.
I proceeded back out to the hapless owl and managed to get all but one wing untangled from the net. It was going to take a bit more hands-on manuevering to get him out of there. I placed a heavier net over the owl to keep him from struggling and getting tangled back up in the net and I ran back into the house to grab a small fleece throw. Somehow, the owl managed to free his wing. I took both nets off him and he just sat there. He refused to fly off! He wouldn't even back away from me or try to get away. It was quite strange. Of course, by this time, the ravens had called in reinforcements. Now, rather than 3 ravens, there were 10 swooping, swirling, perching, and watching.
I went off to do something else and the owl moved to another part of the yard but didn't leave. My Great Dane and I kept a close eye on it to see if it would fly off and to make sure the horrid ravens didn't get this beautiful bird. But, 30 minutes later, it was still there. So, I thought maybe it needed a higher place to take off from. I put the throw over its head, picked it up, carried it to the front yard, and put it on a fence rail. I waited a bit but again, it wouldn't fly off. The only thing it did was hop down to the ground and walk over to the edge of the trees. Ravens are still stalking him and I don't want the ravens around. By this time it had been about an hour since he was freed from the net and he showed no signs of leaving. I was getting cold and had other things to do besides protect him from ravens all day. So, I once again put the throw over his head, picked him up, and put him in an airline kennel. I then put the throw over that to minimize any stress and put the kennel in a quiet corner of a shed. The ravens finally went away, well, the majority of them did. My three regular delinquents came back periodically throughout the day but that's normal.
I ended up driving an hour to take him to a vet that does wildlife rehabilitation. I'll be calling the vet today to get an update. I'll post pics later. Here's hoping he's okay.
It started snowing here on Sunday so there is a nice dusting of white stuff on the ground. I took my daughter to the bus yesterday bright and early. Ok, so it wasn't bright but it was early. When I came back home, I decided to go back to bed for a couple of hours. I was rudely awoken about 45 minutes into my nap by those dang ravens screaming and carrying on. I looked out the window and saw two up in a tree next to my chick pen with a third sitting on the ground in front of the chick pen with a pile of feathers at its feet. I could have sworn I saw the feathers move. I ran out the door in my crocs grabbing my jacket as I went. I was thinking to myself "Crap!! They got one of my ducks!". Well, the ravens departed the area quickly (but didn't go far) and I walked up to the pile of feathers. It was moving (good sign - maybe). I thought it was odd that my net that I use to catch my birds was laying on the ground and the injured (?) bird was on top of it. As I approached, I realized that those big yellow eyes staring at me didn't belong to any of my ducks or any of my other birds for that matter. It was a Great Horned Owl. From what I can gather, he attempted to make a meal of some of my quail but got foiled by the cages they are in and managed to run "afowl" of my net. By this time, my crocs were full of snow and my feet were getting cold. I ran back into the house, swapped my crocs for boots, and grabbed my thick gloves.
I proceeded back out to the hapless owl and managed to get all but one wing untangled from the net. It was going to take a bit more hands-on manuevering to get him out of there. I placed a heavier net over the owl to keep him from struggling and getting tangled back up in the net and I ran back into the house to grab a small fleece throw. Somehow, the owl managed to free his wing. I took both nets off him and he just sat there. He refused to fly off! He wouldn't even back away from me or try to get away. It was quite strange. Of course, by this time, the ravens had called in reinforcements. Now, rather than 3 ravens, there were 10 swooping, swirling, perching, and watching.
I went off to do something else and the owl moved to another part of the yard but didn't leave. My Great Dane and I kept a close eye on it to see if it would fly off and to make sure the horrid ravens didn't get this beautiful bird. But, 30 minutes later, it was still there. So, I thought maybe it needed a higher place to take off from. I put the throw over its head, picked it up, carried it to the front yard, and put it on a fence rail. I waited a bit but again, it wouldn't fly off. The only thing it did was hop down to the ground and walk over to the edge of the trees. Ravens are still stalking him and I don't want the ravens around. By this time it had been about an hour since he was freed from the net and he showed no signs of leaving. I was getting cold and had other things to do besides protect him from ravens all day. So, I once again put the throw over his head, picked him up, and put him in an airline kennel. I then put the throw over that to minimize any stress and put the kennel in a quiet corner of a shed. The ravens finally went away, well, the majority of them did. My three regular delinquents came back periodically throughout the day but that's normal.
I ended up driving an hour to take him to a vet that does wildlife rehabilitation. I'll be calling the vet today to get an update. I'll post pics later. Here's hoping he's okay.
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I've rehabbed several owls over the years under various permits/employments. It's nice to see them appreciated even if they would eat one of our chickens in a heartbeat. Raptors of all sorts are always welcome at my house regardless of their intent.
