Tawny Owl

[timmeroo]

Drove over to East Winch yesterday: Tawny is being hand fed and is having eye drops. I came away feeling not particularly over-optimistic for a good outcome to this. I begin to think it doubtful that Tawny could survive in the wild now, but whether he repairs enough to be tended to indefinately remains to be seen. Are there such things as Owl/Raptor Care Homes???

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by timmeroo

Are there such things as Owl/Raptor Care Homes???

Yes a lot of road victims such as this go to falconry centres and wildlife parks.

[Billabong Karen]

If he can convalesce well enough to be looked after in captivity, there are plenty of places that will take him.

I had a tawny owl story a couple of years ago. Heard a big BANG in the night, and next morning woke up to find a tawny owl sitting on the flat bit of roof over the garage, outside the bedroom window. Reckoned he had hit the glass in the night and suffered a bit of concussion. I didnt worry about him too much, until it started to POUR with heavy sleet/rain. The bird sat there for hours, he must have been drenched and cold, as he was sitting in a very exposed position. I called the vet, who said that if he was concussed he would get wet through and then be unable to fly, and I should bring him in if possible. So I donned safety glasses and thick gloves, took a blanket with me to wrap him up in, and climbed out onto the garage roof...

Whereupon the owl turned round, took a horrified look at me, and took off and flew happily over into the nearby wood.

I hope your owl has a successful recovery.

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by timmeroo

Drove over to East Winch yesterday: Tawny is being hand fed and is having eye drops. I came away feeling not particularly over-optimistic for a good outcome to this. I begin to think it doubtful that Tawny could survive in the wild now, but whether he repairs enough to be tended to indefinately remains to be seen. Are there such things as Owl/Raptor Care Homes???

Well, it sounds like Tawny is eating OK .That must be good news.

And I see nothing wrong at all in it moving onto a wildlife center if it cannot go back to the wild. If it can be given a reasonable quality of life.

That surely is an OK outocme for an Owl that would surely have died if you hadn't done what you did Timmeroo?

Cheers,

Bryan

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

If he can convalesce well enough to be looked after in captivity, there are plenty of places that will take him.

I had a tawny owl story a couple of years ago. Heard a big BANG in the night, and next morning woke up to find a tawny owl sitting on the flat bit of roof over the garage, outside the bedroom window. Reckoned he had hit the glass in the night and suffered a bit of concussion. I didnt worry about him too much, until it started to POUR with heavy sleet/rain. The bird sat there for hours, he must have been drenched and cold, as he was sitting in a very exposed position. I called the vet, who said that if he was concussed he would get wet through and then be unable to fly, and I should bring him in if possible. So I donned safety glasses and thick gloves, took a blanket with me to wrap him up in, and climbed out onto the garage roof...

Whereupon the owl turned round, took a horrified look at me, and took off and flew happily over into the nearby wood.

I hope your owl has a successful recovery.

At least you tried Karen!

Cheers,

Bryan

[timmeroo]

UpdateToday: Have just come off the phone. Tawny is responding better to food and is still having treatment for the right eye. I asked about other rehab places should the bird not be able to be returned to the wild, but it would seem there is an RSPCA policy that any wild animals brought in who don't return to full health to fend for themselves in the wild will be put down. At least things are looking up for the little fella(ess) - and will be reassessed next week.
All your interest and concerns are greatly appreciated

[Billabong Karen]

Really glad to hear he/she is doing better; but shocked about the RSPCA policy. I know that bird of prey centers take in injured birds that cannot fend for themselves.

[galanthophile]

Let's hope it can be saved. Poor thing. Well done for helping it out and giving it a chance!

[timmeroo]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

Really glad to hear he/she is doing better; but shocked about the RSPCA policy. I know that bird of prey centers take in injured birds that cannot fend for themselves.

Yep - it is a puzzler. One would think that after all the money (tax payers)and effort spent to bring it back to near perfect health that to then waste it all simply because its deemed unfit for the wild is a bit ludicrous especially if not only become less wild whilst in their care and may well have lost its territory; so the next best thing would be to place it where it can be cared for especially if it does regain a reasonable quality of life, and is still able to breed. Is there a time scale to an owl losing its territory? Maybe it doesn't matter, 'cept it would have to re-establish itself with competing owls.
I'm in two minds as to whether I should put up Tawny's ref no. so you guys can bombard the RSPCA at East Winch. Does WildAboutBritain itself have any clout here I wonder? I guess its matter of wait and see perhaps. While Tawny keeps improving, it'll still get a reprieve.

[KentYeti]

As it was you that took the trouble to take the Owl into them, maybe they will allow you some say on it's fate if it doesn't quite make it to the level needed for release back into the wild.

Perhaps if you found a local, decent conservation centre who say they will take it in if it doesn't get released, then the RSPCA would accept that route could be used?

Cheers,

Bryan