Another Owl

[Eleisawolf]

Not all of you probably saw the owl I posted on the Rainbow Bridge thread. Well, we've got another one, even younger, trapped in the same place, and nothing we can do at present... Please, all, send your energies that this little one will not suffer the same fate as the other.

Please, O Most Blessed One, keep this baby comfy and sleepy and safe on the ledge until twilight and then help it get to where it can be even more safe and healthy... Please???

:ugh: :ack:

Peace

[Willow Rosette]

Oh sweet baby owl is in my prayers. But I missed the thread on the other owl...Can you fill me in? And where Mommy Owl is??

[Eleisawolf]

We don't know where Mommy is. We figure the nest is probably across the road somewhere. My assumption is that these babies are just learning to fly and are grabbing on for a landing wherever they can. Plus, with our reflective windows, they probably think they see other owls... and our building is mock stone, facing east, which makes it a nice warm perch for a chilly morning...

The other mention is in the Rainbow Bridge thread, where I posted a picture of the baby that died on Tuesday. That one (a Great Horned owl maybe two or three weeks out of the nest with a mix of adult plumage and baby down) also had landed on a window ledge, but after several startles of various types ended up flying into the building a few times. Ze was dead by late afternoon after such trauma...

I just don't want it to happen again--this one has even more down and is smaller--perhaps just out of the nest. Imagine, leaving the nest for the first time and getting confused by our building complex, not to mention gawked at by people who aren't thinking of what their curiosity can do to poor frightened critters... I wish corporate America would take more precautions to protect birds from our buildings and our fraggled urban sprawl...

Peace

[Merrilyn]

Hopeful wishes for the lil owl! :hugz:

[Eleisawolf]

Update:

We've closed the shade (and I think I p'd someone off by telling them they shouldn't peek at it by raising slats of the shade--I don't care, I don't want this one scared off the way the other one was; people can be such selfish wankers sometimes) and the person sitting closest to it is making sure it stays closed.

Baby's still there... I'm feeling hopeful...

Can't be more than about 7-8 weeks old--which means it isn't a perfect flyer yet; so will be good to (hopefully) keep hir content until evening when maybe Mom will come back, since she wouldn't normally be too far away from baby at this age. We're wondering if maybe the nest is on the roof of the building... and/or maybe Mom's been killed... but Dad should be nearby, too.

Hope ze's not too hot out there...

Peace and hope...

[Shanti]

If the baby seems to be failing at all and its becoming obvious that there is no parent bird attending it, call a wildlife rehab or a forestry or wild animal dept within your local gov.
With the owls being federally protected, a licensed rehabber will rescue the young one.

If you don't have a local gov number call the US fish and wildlife service...they can get help. 1-800-344-WILD

They can also advice you and when intervention may be needed.

I'd call our local DNR (department of natural resources for Wisconsin) If I was in your position. Its so much better to have a running correspondence with someone on the local level, so that any action that may be needed is done at the correct time without delay.

Oh and keep us updated please.

Oh and if the location that this wee one is in is putting it in harms way, or people are close to it and creating a potential disturbance for the bird, your local wildlife people will help. Only licensed persons can do anything that's needed to help this guy so they will help. They don't want unlicensed people messing with federally protected wildlife.

[Pinion]

I was going to ask you to call a rehabber, but Shanti beat me to it. They know what they are doing and are licensed and trained to handle these situations. I took five six-week old baby racoons to one just a couple weeks ago and have taken numerous injured or foundling birds.

[Shanti]

Oh and tell the wildlife people that the other one died! That alone can totally change how they handle the situation!

[Shanti]

I was going to ask you to call a rehabber, but Shanti beat me to it. They know what they are doing and are licensed and trained to handle these situations. I took five six-week old baby racoons to one just a couple weeks ago and have taken numerous injured or foundling birds.The only difference with this owl, is you need a federally licensed rehabber thats licensed specifically for birds of prey. Thats why calling your local or the federal wildlife offices are best. They know exactly where their bird of prey rehabbers are located and can get them to the animal the quickest.

[wolfjan1]

Then, fly, baby, fly! I said the prayer three times out loud. Blessings and energy to this creature of nature.

[Pinion]

The only difference with this owl, is you need a federally licensed rehabber thats licensed specifically for birds of prey. Thats why calling your local or the federal wildlife offices are best. They know exactly where their bird of prey rehabbers are located and can get them to the animal the quickest.

Here the rehab people refer you to somebody with a license...they don't take anything they are not allowed to have. Some do deer, some do racoons, some take care birds of prey, some only do song/migratory birds and not "raptors", etc. They send you to the right person.

We are very lucky as S.E. Michigan has a Wild Bird Center now for ANY kind of bird.

[Willow Rosette]

Please keep us updated!

[Shanti]

Here the rehab people refer you to somebody with a license...they don't take anything they are not allowed to have. Some do deer, some do racoons, some take care birds of prey, some only do song/migratory birds and not "raptors", etc. They send you to the right person.

We are very lucky as S.E. Michigan has a Wild Bird Center now for ANY kind of bird.
I would agree, very lucky. Thats great they have the bird center. :)

Here many rehabbers are for local state critters only and those people often don't know the federal people as the 2 are in different fields. And you sometimes find the rehabber who will break the law and take what they are not licensed to take. People sometimes lie.
And thats worrisome to me because the best care may not be had.

[Eleisawolf]

Thanks all for your advice.

The DoW folks and local Raptor Rescue know the other one died. We had called them out after ze crashed the first two times. Firstly, they said they couldn't do anything unless the bird was contained, so my facilities folks had to try to get a box or blanket over hir. That, of course, was badly handled, so it crashed again before they got the bird contained. Sadly I wasn't there at that point, but from a distance saw the people who tried to help it approach it from exactly the wrong angle.

When the volunteer finally made it out (about 4 hours after we called), the little one was already dead.

This one isn't in danger yet unless our employees get too stupid in their curiosity like they did with the first one (I'm still angry about that)--it's huddled into a third story window ledge. I didn't see Mom or Dad nearby right off hand, but I know there are adult owls around here at night. Our hope is that if we keep people away from the window so ze won't be frightened off, ze will wait until dusk and then the parents will come back, if they're still around. If the baby's still here in the morning, I'm calling, I don't care whether it's contained or not. But otherwise ze's perching in a corner of the building, just as it would in a rocky crevice or on a tree branch. So we're wondering if it's just waiting out the day. The problem with the other one was the curious people who startled hir when they gathered around the window to look at hir.

We do have a couple of other worries--firstly, that one of hir eyes is injured, which would hinder hir ability to fly. Secondly, we had a huge windstorm last week and were wondering if maybe the babies were blown out of the nest, wherever it might be. That might explain why we haven't seen parents and maybe why the flying isn't so good. But they're young anyway and while they can fly some they're just not ready to be on their own yet.

I will keep you posted to the best of my ability. Let me know any other thoughts you might have. Anything will help...

Peace

[Eleisawolf]

Next update...

Called DoW to get it on their radar, but they told me what I thought they would: trying to rescue the owl from a third story window, at this point, would pose more of a risk to it than leaving it be, making sure it's undisturbed, and hoping that either parents or hunger will lead it away later in the evening. But now they're aware, so hopefully if I need to call them tomorrow they'll be able to respond more quickly than they did to the first one.

So, sitting on my hands for now... I'll be at the office into the evening, so maybe I'll be able to give another report before tomorrow. Hopefully, good news.

Peace

[Shanti]

3 stories up? If people would stay at bay, the owl would prob be cared for by a parent if one is around.
I so hope everyone stays away from this one.

[Shanti]

I posted before I got to read your last update.
I can see how 3 stories up could cause more harm trying to help it.
The parent might not of been around with the other one because it knew people were to close.

I am hoping with all my heart a parent will come to the rescue.
If not, I hope your communications with the DOW result in a successful rescue.

[Eleisawolf]

Exactly what I'm hoping, Shanti. I'm being a bit of an unrepentant hag in keeping people away from that window, too. With the shade down and the area quiet, baby seems pretty comfy and not too stressed. As long as we can keep people away and give the baby time, maybe all will be well...

Boy, is ze a pretty baby, though...

Peace

[Shanti]

No matter what happens, I always feel its a blessing when a piece of nature, in this case the owl, allows one the experience of its beauty up close and personal.
So even when it goes bad, like the lost baby, I carry a touch of feeling good...I think to myself, nature has allowed me a short time to experience her wonder. This is a gift.

Just seeing its colors, its eyes...such beauty. Such a gift. :)

And being gifted with the opportunity to protect it...an honor.
So be a proud, "unrepentant hag"....its a job of the highest honor. :)

May the spirit of the owls fill your heart with grace.

[Eleisawolf]

Thanks, Shanti. Words I needed to hear.

Namaste

[Eleisawolf]

Update:

Baby is still here. However, there's some good news:

1) Ze's now on the opposite side of the window, and there's no additional poo since yesterday. I think ze might have flown last night and just came back to what is now a safe perch (unintended side effect of protection, but not necessarily one I'll complain about)

2) Ze looks perkier and happier.

3) Ze opened both eyes this morning, according to the coworker who gently checked. So it seems both eyes are healthy.

I'm not as worried at this point. I'd prefer that ze fly off into the trees, but ze's young enough that perhaps ze's not ready to fly further yet. I'm willing to keep an eye out until ze goes further. But I'm glad at the improvements...

I hope Mom and Dad are still nearby and helped last night, and I hope the little one gets strong and healthy. We'll keep watching to make sure...

Peace

[Shanti]

~keeping fingers crossed~

[Pinion]

I Hope he is flying away at night...because if he isn't and there's no additional poo, that means he is dehydrating.

Keeping Ze in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for the update!!!

[Eleisawolf]

Further Update:

:boing:

Colorado Wildlife just came and picked up the baby... they were worried about hir having been on the window ledge for two days, so they came to get hir and take hir to Raptor Rescue for evaluation. I'm sad and relieved all at the same time--sad because the whole thing shouldn't have happened (and, admittedly, because I became attached, too, and didn't get to see hir off), but deeply relieved that ze's in the right hands.

I'm currently working with some people in the office to craft an interdepartmental news item informing people how to deal with wildlife encounters in urban settings, to make sure that a loss like the one earlier this week doesn't happen again. People just aren't aware, and they allow their curiosity to eclipse their common sense... it makes me mad, but I can't prevent lack of information by any means except providing information. That's when it becomes an advantage to be in the communications department.

:hahugh:

So I'll be working this weekend to get information and craft the article. Ah, to know that I'm using the gifts given me to give something back... and my deepest most heartfelt thoughts are with the little one... thank you, Most Blessed One, for taking care of the baby.

Peace

[Catiana]

I'm so glad that everything turned out well with this little one.

[Shanti]

How wonderful No more doubt. Now the babe will be ok.
Gosh I'm choked up and I wasn't even there.

I am so glad you got to experience his presence and now know he will survive. And you have your goal of spreading some eduction around..bravo for you!!!

Oh what great news!! :)

[Eleisawolf]

Thanks to both of you. And thanks so much for your support this week, and the support of everyone here!

They say that if the little one is healthy, once ze's got the flying thing down, they'll release back in this area. They estimated even younger than I did--2-3 weeks (I thought they didn't even fly until about 6 or 7).

Thank you all again.

Peace

[aluokaloo]

energies sent to the sweet little owl just spreading it's wings, and I've got an idea too, why not do something to make the windows less reflective, like maybe curtains or something on it that might work

[BlueEyedWolf]

:hugz: :hugz: :hugz:

[Cindlady2]

That's great!

Blessings to the owls!