this post was submitted on 11 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 19 - Morepork vs Little Owl (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by anon6789 to c/superbowl
42 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

WINNER: LITTLE OWL 67-57

Morepork soundly defeated the Barred Owl in a real surprise to most of us. If Morepork makes it through this, he may be facing New Zealand's recent addition, the Barn Owl. Morepork is about 10 inches / 26 cm. It's this small enough to be today's favorite little brown owl?

Little Owl bested Barking Owl to get here today. Little Owl was also brought to New Zealand's South Island in the early 20th century. Little Owl measures in at 8.5 inches / 22 cm giving it the edge in tinyness. Little Owl is all over Eurasia and Africa as well.

Will this flat headed fellow be the winner today, or will the charm and rarity of the Morepork prevail? Upvote your favorite!

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[–] anon6789 67 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Little Owl

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Morepork has the colors, but I can't resist that flat little head!

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

These 2 have a good bit similar between them, so it's going to come down to those finer details today.

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

I'm not an ornithologist, but I have strong owlpinions!

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 year ago

🤣

[–] Jyrdano 2 points 1 year ago

Wo can say no to such adorable little murder machine?

[–] anon6789 60 points 1 year ago

Morepork

[–] loganberryq 16 points 1 year ago (2 children)

#MoreporkSquad

[–] anon6789 5 points 1 year ago

It's names are certainly the more creative ones and I support that!

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

Morepork represent, the only indigenous owl in New Zealand.

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's got company with the Barn Owl these days, and it thankfully doesn't seem to be going after native birds too badly.

As for Little Owl vs Morepork IRL:

From NZbirdsonline

A total of 219 little owls were imported and released by the Otago Acclimatisation Society between 1906 and 1910. Additional birds were released in the Canterbury region around the same time. They spread rapidly, and are common throughout the eastern South Island.

Little owls were introduced with the intention that they would limit populations of introduced finches and sparrows, and thereby reduce crop damage. There is no evidence that they have been effective in this, nor are little owls considered a significant threat as a predator to any native bird species. They are a major predator of the endangered Cromwell chafer beetle (Prodontria lewisi), and may limit the beetle’s population. The largely non-overlapping distributions of little owl and morepork are suggestive of competitive exclusion. This may be driven more by habitat preferences than direct interactions, but this has not been studied

[–] Transcendant 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Tough choice, both exude fierce cuteness. Unfortunately for the Morepork, for me it has an association with Liz Truss, and the Little Owl is just adorable (unless you're a mouse, in which case I imagine its cute flat head is actually quite terrifying).

Little Owl for me!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Surely the Terry Pratchett association cancels out Truss?

[–] anon6789 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Ahh, speaking about expanding our horizons... I have not yet partaken of Discworld. I see it mentioned all the time online but never IRL so it always ends up slipping my mind. Is there a current appropriate place to start? I feel Guards, Guards is the one I typically have seen mentioned.

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

Guards, Guards and the stories of the city watch are definitely my favorite thread of the universe. Mort might also be a good intro, I think.

[–] anon6789 4 points 1 year ago

Thank you, kind stranger!

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

I really like this suggested reading order, 8ve recommended it quite a few times: https://www.discworldemporium.com/reading-order/

I'm a little envious of you, getting to experience all these lovely books for the first time! Terry Pratchett has such a brilliant style of writing. He manages to lampoon everyday life annoyances and foibles, into a bizarre setting but it still seeks to be perfectly relatable.

Also in reply to your other comment... You're doing a brilliant job here! The vibe is perfect 😁👏

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

Thank you! I haven't gotten into too many series overall because I'm always afraid of getting invested and then it either just disappears or will take a dive in quality or the author just seems to lose interest. I've just heard about Discworld for so long having been an Internet nerd that I need to finally see what it's all about.

I like that we're a small enough group that we can keep it loose and talk about tangents like this and it's no biggie. If anything, I feel it keeps something like this from falling too deep into being a niche group.

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

If that's your concern, I'd like to add some context about Discworld.

Firstly, it's not really just one series -- it's a group of books all set in the same world. Some sets of books follow the same group of characters, but there's a few that are standalone. Monstrous Regiment is my favourite of these. Without spoiling it, it's about a girl who joins a regiment of soldiers to find her brother, also missing in the war. While not a Discworld book, Good Omens was a collaboration between Pratchett and Neil Gaiman that's a very fun book to read.

I'll also give a rough characterisation of Pratchett's writing. It's built on using humour and a strong sense of right and wrong (which most people on Lemmy are broadly likely to agree with) to make a point, while also telling a compelling story.

TLDR: Monstrous Regiment good standalone Discworld, Pratchett funny with big heart.

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 year ago

I did a bit of browsing at lunch, and I followed some of the guides and saw there were quite a bit of individual separate storylines that were highly recommended, which I liked, since it sounds like after I finish one, I can either dive deeper into that story, it hop to another of in feeling into a different "flavor."

Downloaded Guards! Guards! since most people said they enjoyed that one. All I got to read was the dedication at the beginning, but I liked the writing style. Don't know when I'll get to really start since I'm very into the One Piece arc I'm in (another series I finally gave into starting this year) and I also got the What an Owl Knows book from the author I've plugged here a few times, but I definitely want to check out Discworld before the end of the year.

Thank you guys for your advice, and thanks Morepork for helping get this subject brought up!

[–] Transcendant 3 points 1 year ago

An excellent point. Really I should be doing all I can to not even think about her, so I'll take that advice!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Oh no what’s the truss connection

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

Just a silly joke about her wanting more pork and how it's a disgrace, please ignore

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

I appreciate all the attempts at humor here. Everyone has kept it polite so far, and I like the increased back and forth with myself and each other we've had going on. It's been much more fun for me at least. I like when it's more than you guys just giving a pic a thumbs up and moving on.

I (we) also get a chance to learn about each other. I am learning about things from England, France, Germany, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand from you all. You guys have so much to add without even realizing it sometimes!

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

Ah this is sweet to hear. I had a really bad, unintended interaction with a mod on another group recently and it's made me really nervous about making silly offhand comments, so it's good to know we can be silly here as long as we try to keep it light and polite :) one of the things I used to love about reddit, and love about lemmy is that I get to chat to people from all over the world. Like you say it's a good opportunity to expand our worldview.

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 year ago

I'm not a mod, but my personal intention is to make this a happy and positive space for everyone as much as possible. As long as nothing starts getting personal, there shouldn't be too much off limits.

I try to keep my language PG since I'm basically representing the community most of the time here, and I try to include everyone as equal as I can so this doesn't feel like a North American group. I may say something ignorant or misinformed about another place, but so far people have been polite in correcting me, so that keeps me willing to post about those places even though I may not know too much about it.

I feel it's in everyone's benefit to treat each other nice here if we want the community to grow and for Lemmy itself to keep getting bigger and better.

It's my hope you and everyone else here feels welcomed, that your opinions matter, and you shouldn't be afraid to correct someone or ask questions.

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

There seems to be a meme about her and "pork markets," so I think it's a Brexit thing, but I'll let one of our local Brits chime in.

Update: Liz Truss Pork Meme

In what is the latest in memorable moments from a gruelling Tory leadership contest, a Liz Truss meme has gone viral for a strange moment in an old speech where the potential PM in waiting made a promise about pork.

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

Unfortunately for the Morepork, for me it has an association with Liz Truss

Ah, it's a pity that OP went with the British coloniser name for the Morepork then.

It's *original * Maori name, that is widely used in NZ too, is the Ruru.

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

I've called it the Ruru a few times during the contest and in other posts. I've been trying to keep it under one name here so I don't confuse people into thinking it's 2 different things since it isn't a bird familiar to the rest of us.

The main reason I've stuck with Morepork is I source a lot of images from Flickr and searching "Ruru" there just gives me some Asian swimsuit model. Not the hooters I'm looking for. 😅

If it's more respectful to change it to Ruru, I'm perfectly fine with that. I have no knowledge whatsoever about politics or social issues in that part of the world, so I'm always receptive to your feedback.

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

@anon6789 no, you're all good, I was just lamenting the Liz Truss connection.

NZ is officially bictural so if you were being formal it would probably be Ruru (Morepork) or Ruru/Morepork.

Those on the left wing, Maori, and younger people are more likely to call it Ruru but older generation and those on the political right are more likely to use Morepork.

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 year ago

No offense was taken. I just like to be sure I'm not being rude or ignorant when possible.

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

I upvoted both. I can't pick a fav here.

[–] anon6789 3 points 1 year ago

You picked 2 good choices then!

[–] littlebluespark 4 points 1 year ago

Morepork will carry Pratchett's legacy until the end of tiiiiiime 🤘🏼

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

How are these the actual names???

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

They're both appropriately named, as strange as that may seem.

Little Owl is pretty much the smallest common owl in most of its range.

Morepork by the English, or Ruru by the native people, is what the owl's call sounds like.

Morepork / Ruru Call

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

I would have done so much better in Biology if you were the teacher!

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 year ago

I try my best!

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

Going with morepork for some local pride.

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

I wish it was local to me too!

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

Now that you say that, I do too. I was just making a Pratchett joke, although the city is Morpork. Alas, I've never been to the beautiful land of the moreporks.

Even if my reasoning is joke, moreporks are defo my choice here.

[–] anon6789 2 points 1 year ago

Mine too! You can tell I havent rigged this by how many of my favs have been losing this week! 😑