this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2025
152 points (100.0% liked)

Superbowl

3717 readers
504 users here now

For owls that are superb.

US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now

International Wildlife Rescues: RescueShelter.com

Australia Rescue Help: WIRES

Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Italy Wild Bird Rescue: wildvogelhilfe.org

If you find an injured owl:

Note your exact location so the owl can be released back where it came from. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist to get correct advice and immediate assistance.

Minimize stress for the owl. If you can catch it, toss a towel or sweater over it and get it in a cardboard box or pet carrier. It should have room to be comfortable but not so much it can panic and injure itself. If you can’t catch it, keep people and animals away until help can come.

Do not give food or water! If you feed them the wrong thing or give them water improperly, you can accidentally kill them. It can also cause problems if they require anesthesia once help arrives, complicating procedures and costing valuable time.

If it is a baby owl, and it looks safe and uninjured, leave it be. Time on the ground is part of their growing up. They can fly to some extent and climb trees. If animals or people are nearby, put it up on a branch so it’s safe. If it’s injured, follow the above advice.

For more detailed help, see the OwlPages Rescue page.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

From World Bird Sanctuary

Many times we will get asked by visitors, "Does this bird only have one leg?" Don't worry, they all have two! Birds, such as Farnsworth the barn owl, will stand on one leg for a few reasons.

One such reason is to help with heat loss. The arteries that transport blood into the legs lie in contact with the veins that return blood to the bird's heart. The warm arteries heat the cooler veins. Since the veins also cool the arteries, the bird's feet are closer to environmental temperature and thus don't lose as much heat as they would if they were at body temperature. Even so, on extra cold days, tucking a foot up and keeping it close to their warm body will reduce heat loss even more.

But what about the birds that you see tucking a leg on a hot day in the middle of summer? The other reason why birds will stand on one leg is simply that it is comfortable. When a bird is relaxing, they will regularly stand on one leg instead of both.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] anon6789 3 points 1 month ago

Now we know the reason!