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.
From Antonius Lo
Winter family gathering. Short Eared Owl (Asio flammeus ). Southern Ontario, Canada. December 2024. OM-1 n M Zuiko 150-600 @ 600 f/8 SS 1/800 640. Taken under flurries hazy weather.
Take a load off Annie / Take a load for free / Take a load off Annie
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannd
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannd
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannd
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannd
You put the load right on MEeeeeeee!
Missed opportunity: Take a load off Owly
D'oh!
I've never seen that many owls together, at least not ones that look full grown. I wonder if hunting in the winter is easier as a group.
From what I can find, they don't work together, and they will steal from each other, but if there's enough food in an area, they're a bit more sociable than normal for an owl.
Shorties are nomadic and able to fly very far, unlike many owls that stay within a few miles of where they're born. So they can move to a very productive area where there's enough food that sharing isn't as big a deal as when they're stuck in one place.
They also hunt the same food in the same places as other raptors, especially harriers, so there are lots of photos of them fighting harriers and other Shorties.
2 Shorties
Shorties vs Harrier
Interesting! Thanks for the info, and the pics.
Of course! I'm glad you liked them.