Injured tawny owl

Ladywell · #1 (**permalink**) 29-11-2010, 09:02 PM

Someone has just brought me an tawney owl they picked up on the road. I am used to dealing with injured wildlife. We have checked him and there are no obvious injuries - flaps both wings absolutely fine and no broken bones in legs. I have fed him/her some chicken (only breast as all I have). I am thinking that he/she might just have been stunned by a glancing blow from a car. My question is, if he/she is OK in the morning do I need to:
a) release him/her at dusk
b) release him/her near to where he/she was found

Obviously if I am concerned about him/her in the morning I will take him/her to our local vet.

Advice welcome please

natureshooter · #2 (**permalink**) 29-11-2010, 09:07 PM

cant help with your question but how nice it must be to have a tawny so close..it would be magic.hope its better in morning.

Gaz

RKB · #3 (**permalink**) 29-11-2010, 09:16 PM

It might also be starving. Have a feel of the breast - does it feel plumplike a chicken, or is the breastbone sharp and hollow at the sides with no muscle? I so, yu'll need to pass it onto someone to build up.

Aside from that, if it's fine tomorrow then you ahve to take it towhere it came from - they are very territorial and it will have known hunting areas. Late afternoon (an hour before dusk) is fine.

Acipiter · #4 (**permalink**) 29-11-2010, 09:41 PM

Your best bet would be to take it to a raptor rescue centre, when its been seen too, they will ask you to take it back to where you found it.

Ladywell · #5 (**permalink**) 29-11-2010, 11:02 PM

Thanks for replies. Just been to check him/her - seems fine. I had already checked breastbone (thanks) really plump so think it is a happy owl and, hopefully, will be able to release it tomorrow! I have taken a couple of pics and will post them if I can find how to do it!!

actionfinch · #6 (**permalink**) 30-11-2010, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natureshooter

cant help with your question but how nice it must be to have a tawny so close..it would be magic.hope its better in morning.

Gaz

i agree it must be something

Ladywell · #7 (**permalink**) 30-11-2010, 04:04 PM

Update - owl very well and strong this morning - ate some more chicken. Decided I needed to find someone with an aviary to make sure he/she could fly properly before realeasing, Through my vets, I got the name of a fairly local guy who has all the right facilitiesand already has a few owls. Took the owl over this afternoon. He will keep it for a few days and feed it up before releasing. When we put it in the aviary it flew strongly up to the perch -which was a thrill to see. So all looking good for getting him back to the wild.

rossy · #8 (**permalink**) 30-11-2010, 04:15 PM

well done , you must be pleased ,as well as relieved, things are looking good for the owl.

rossy

.

Ladywell · #9 (**permalink**) 30-11-2010, 07:34 PM

I am thrilled to bits, Rossy - nice when things turn out well. I now have a nice new contact for unjured BOP. He is going to keep in touch and let me know how the owl gets on and, hopefully, meet up when it is released - that's assuming this b****y snow stops soon - we now have almost a foot of it!

RKB · #10 (**permalink**) 30-11-2010, 10:05 PM

Ladywell, you MUST make sure that it is released where it was found. This is very important, as it will know the area and its feeding/roosting sites, and if released in another area it's likely that it will be attacked by the resident owls. If necessary offer to pick it up and release it yourself (just open the box!).