this post was submitted on 07 Dec 2023
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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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Owl of the Year Match 12 - Saw Whet Owl vs Ural Owl (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by anon6789 to c/superbowl
33 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

WINNER: SAW WHET OWL 56-27

Saw Whet Owls are one of the smallest of the North American owls. Their names comes from their vocalization, which is says to sound like sharpening a saw blade. They come mainly from deep coniferous forests, far away from people. We usually only encounter them during their annual migration, when they are banded and studied. This is a very adorable little owl, and it comes in many colors and patterns.

The Ural Owl is quite the opposite to the Saw Whet. This large owl comes from northern Europe and Russia. Unlike the large excited eyes of the Saw Whet, the Ural Owl usually looks half asleep. While Ural Owls also typically don't live near people, they do not appear as shy as the Saw Whet, and are fairly easy to approach.

Which is these birds is your favorite today? This is quite the diverse pairing, so upvote your choice below!

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[–] anon6789 59 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Saw Whet Owl

[–] rustyfish 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Owls looking like they underestimated a fart will always be superior to anything else.

[–] anon6789 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Lol you guys have been bringing some colorful commentary. I live seeing this place more conversational like this. It shows we're all having lots of fun.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So. Cute!

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

They really are, and I love how they're like snowflakes in that they're tiny and it feels no 2 lol unlike, unlike with a lot of owls.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 year ago

Lol perfect for this!

[–] espentan 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Impossible not to love this little fella, he gets my vote.

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 year ago

I agree! They are so little, yet fluffy. I liked in the one owl banding video I posted before they were transporting them to the work area in old tomato paste cans.

[–] anon6789 28 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Ural Owl

[–] Nouveau_Burnswick 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Me watching my kid do something stupid, while not having the energy to stop it.

[–] TheDoozer 4 points 1 year ago

"...I'm so tired."

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 year ago

As long as they make it to the end of the day in one piece, that's all you can ask some days I bet! 😅

[–] BustinJiber 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It has like the epicanthic fold.

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 year ago

I think you taught me a new word!

To learn more about owl eyelids (3 of them) check out this post!

[–] Wodge 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Sleepy vs Alert AF.

I'm voting for the Saw Whet.

[–] Nouveau_Burnswick 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was a Saw Whet.

But I have kids now, so I'm an Ural.

[–] anon6789 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The Dad/Mom ~~Bod~~ Face Owl!

I think Ural looks like Bill Murray.

[–] Nouveau_Burnswick 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Less the bod, and more the face of "I'm always tired / what did they do now"

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 year ago

I get that face after about 15 minutes with kids! More power to you for doing it full time!

[–] Transcendant 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Speed vs Weed

[–] anon6789 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I wasn't gonna say it, but I was thinking it!

[–] Transcendant 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Don't worry, I'll always be around to lower the tone of discourse 😂

[–] anon6789 4 points 1 year ago

I appreciate the effort 😆

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

It looks like a plushie :3

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 year ago

I want to carry one in my shirt pocket.

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

I thought with their polar opposite moods, it was going to make a really easy choice for a lot of you today. One of them is instantly going to speak to all your personality types.

[–] proudblond 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Honestly this is the hardest one for me so far! I’m not sure why. Just love the look of both of them.

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That's the important part. I'm out to get all you to love each and every owl out there!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I love the wise old owl look of the ural, but the saw whet's "HI!" expression gets me every time

[–] anon6789 1 points 1 year ago

Saw Whets are so quirky and aloof looking. They may but be everyone's favorite owl, but I've can't help but think they are adorable in every way. I am a sucker for they're pouty face like they could possibly look intimidating.

[–] rustyredox 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Are there hypothesis about the evolutionary pressures in the divergence of Iris colors between owl species? Does it have to do with social or mating displays, or is it more about the climate and nocturnal vs diurnal vs crepuscular hunting patterns?

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 year ago

Owl have very interesting eyes for many reasons.

It seems to be the part of the day they're active, as you suspected. Here's a primer I've posted before that gives the run down. I don't think it's 100% reliable, as Great Horned Owls have yellow eyes but aren't known as diurnal owls.

Some species do seem to have greater eye color variation than others and some seem more reflective, giving that red eye camera effect in photos.

They can also control their irises voluntarily, as seen in this post.