Owl attack

[RobinP]

My colleague at work attended one of these 'team bulding' events recently. One of the events was the chance to fly an Owl (not sure which type). Unfortunately the bird took a dislike to her blonde hair and left her with some rather painful talon marks in her head :eek Maybe the people who organize these sort of things should have realised the dangers of having untrained people handle bop's?

[thunder]

All part of the team-building, I suspect. To see how other team members react to the event!!

henrya

[Lance Morgan]

Nasty - Can only be a Barn or due to whiteness most likely a Snowy.

[epops]

Is that not how Eric Hoskins lost an eye when a Tawny he was photographing caught him in the face

[solus]

Looks like she has "mousy" hair.

*Off to hide after that one - sorry, couldn't resist.*

Seriously though, hope the girl's OK.

PS: Looks like a Barn Owl - too small for a Snowy surely, and it seems to have a brown back...

[Ukwildlifeo]

That looks like a barn owl. I would never have thought they would attack a human like that, away from its nest at least. I guess it thought her hair was another barn owl, but I thought they were meant to have good eyesight!?

[Jonathan]

Hi Robin,

Did the owl definately attack her? What occasionally happens is a not-particularly-hungry imprinted BOP will fly to someone with an outstretched arm, then choose to land on the highest point (unfortunately, usually the head!) rather than the glove. The person panics, the raptor tightens it's grip to keep a foothold and all hell breaks loose! Best option is to always make sure that, not only does the glove hold food, but that it's also the highest point.

I think the tawny that attacked Hoskins was defending a nest, wasn't it?

I've seen two goshawks that would occasionally attack people. One was a mad imprinted male that used to think anything vaguely small or furry - like mittens, or a hat - was a prey item! The other was a huge Russian female that would, just occasionally, lose her temper and attack her owner. He had a large rip in the shoulder of a jacket where she'd hit it as he attempted to duck!

Jonathan

[epops]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Hi Robin,

Did the owl definately attack her? What occasionally happens is a not-particularly-hungry imprinted BOP will fly to someone with an outstretched arm, then choose to land on the highest point (unfortunately, usually the head!) rather than the glove. The person panics, the raptor tightens it's grip to keep a foothold and all hell breaks loose! Best option is to always make sure that, not only does the glove hold food, but that it's also the highest point.

I think the tawny that attacked Hoskins was defending a nest, wasn't it?

I've seen two goshawks that would occasionally attack people. One was a mad imprinted male that used to think anything vaguely small or furry - like mittens, or a hat - was a prey item! The other was a huge Russian female that would, just occasionally, lose her temper and attack her owner. He had a large rip in the shoulder of a jacket where she'd hit it as he attempted to duck!

Jonathan

yep i think your right the Tawny was protecting a nest btw i wonder if thats a trait that gossies have because some time ago a friend of mine had a female that would attck him ie latch on to him when ever it got the chance yet his girlfriend and children could do anything with the bird they liked???

[RobinP]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Hi Robin,

Did the owl definately attack her? What occasionally happens is a not-particularly-hungry imprinted BOP will fly to someone with an outstretched arm, then choose to land on the highest point (unfortunately, usually the head!) rather than the glove. The person panics, the raptor tightens it's grip to keep a foothold and all hell breaks loose! Best option is to always make sure that, not only does the glove hold food, but that it's also the highest point.

Hi Jonathan

I don't know all the details but it sounds like you are right, goes back to my point about un-trained people in charge of bop's. She's OK now apart from some scratches, was very scary at the time apparently.

[ellen h]

I don't know all the details but it sounds like you are right, goes back to my point about un-trained people in charge of bop's. She's OK now apart from some scratches, was very scary at the time apparently

I know what its like to have a barn owl land on your head!!Years ago used to do voluntary work at a wildlife rescue centre,they had a barn owl that used to alight on your head when you entered her aviary.Luckily she never dug her talons in,though there used to be a hard hat by the door for those of a nervous disposition!!
It was always the tawnys you had to be wary of,they could be quite aggressive
ellen