this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2024
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Superbowl

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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.

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White Faced Scops walked into this tournament like a true champion, and none of its competition has yet to present much of a challenge. This owl just looks good. It's got the ears, it's got a prominent mustache, captivating orange eyes, and a trendy monochromatic color scheme. He's so far untouchable, but we've got a tiny owl coming in for a sneak attack!

The wee Saw Whet has been very accomplished these last two weeks. It's taken on the Barred Owl, the pescatarian Buffy Fish Owl, and it just out-greated the Great Horned Owl. This itty bitty owl has shown it's got big, big heart. It's small, it's expressive, it's got a lot of unique looks, and it's uncommon, but not as exotic to most of us as the Scops.

Will the Scops march unopposed to the finals, or has it finally met its match? Will the Saw Whet's winning streak keep going? I dunno, that's what you guys are here to tell me! Upvote your choice for the finals now!

#superbowl #owloftheyear2024

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[–] anon6789 72 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Man that last picture is incredible

[–] anon6789 7 points 1 month ago

Agreed. So many wonderful colors, and a sweet expression on the owl.

[–] anon6789 67 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Every time OP finds new pictures and every time I'm in awe...

[–] anon6789 9 points 1 month ago

The pressure is always on to top my last effort! Thankfully they are all so beautiful to begin with.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

whispers
It's Ok, Scopes. You'll always be my favorite.

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You can narrow it down to only one???

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yes. And it's all thanks to you. I didn't have one before superbowl.

White-Faced Scopes has got it all going on: really interesting, symmetrical, distinctive face patterns; prominent riktal bristles; prominent ear tufts; amazingly colored eyes; wonderful feather colors; and it's adorably tiny. Other owls may dominate in individual categories - GHO has bigger ear tufts, Snowy has shockingly beautiful (if monochromatic) coloring, Saw Whet is even more adorably tiny - but WF Scopes has all of these attractive traits in spades.

So: yes. I can narrow it down to one, and it's for me really not hard. I haven't yet seen a WFS picture I didn't think was an incredible creature.

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm glad I helped you find your perfect owl then! I do agree with all those great characteristics.

I want to see one in person at some point, but all the ones I can find are in the UK (or Africa, of course).

I get a few updates on WFS from Owl Rescue Center in South Africa, but I hope to get some more international rescues in my list in the coming year, so I hope to see many more beautiful Scops!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Look at those eyebrows! It's the whole package - truly the goat of owls.

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I just found out we have a wedding to go to in the Bronx next year, and just when I was replying to you earlier I was looking who in the tri-state area had a WFS, and the Bronx Zoo was one of them!

I hope to see that little guy!

The National Aviary I visited early this year got a new one this fall as well, but that is further away.

Gotta get me some Scops!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Lucky! I need to check if there are any kept in The Cities

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 month ago

Do it! Chase your dreams!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Now that's a tough match. It's the first time it's really hard to decide for me.

[–] anon6789 4 points 1 month ago

It was always just a matter of when! And the biggest match is still left after this.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Dammit. I new this day would come.

it's got a prominent mustache

"Riktal bristles." 😉

[–] anon6789 7 points 1 month ago

I've finally reached these keeeeds!

[–] maniclucky 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Hard matchup. Only thing that would make it better is for the pictures to be switched so that they're staring each other down a la boxers.

[–] anon6789 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Good call. I did that on the Snowy/Eagle one.

I changed it. Much better!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Now they are even cuter

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Oh no, don‘t do this to me

[–] anon6789 5 points 1 month ago

You did it to yourselves! 😜

It does get irrationally difficult.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

When I look at both of them, I got the feeling they are equally beautiful but still my heart has a favorite and I cannot do anything about it...
Comme on dit : le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ignore.

[–] anon6789 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I like that expression! ❤️

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I love premade expression. Unfortunatly, they cannot be easily translated.

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 month ago

This one wasn't too bad compared to others. With the key words I think it's straightforward enough to get an appropriate meaning in English.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This is such a close match! C’mon little Saw Whet, you got this. ❤️

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 month ago

Both have been back and forth all day, it's so nerve wracking!