At this time of year, there is always a chance that we might receive a call regarding one of our lesser known Owls - the Short-eared Owl. This species migrates from the main breeding grounds in Scandinavia to warmer climes of Southern Europe, often stopping off in the UK along the way. Bird watchers and photographers flock to the coast to catch a glimpse of these birds flying in off the North Sea.
Over the past week, the team have been excited to have two brought in for us to help. Here are their stories.
The first bird was found under a hedge in a field, no-where near a road. It was picked up by a concerned member of the public, who thought it was a Tawny Owl with a broken wing. Mat went out to collect the bird, and peeking into the box was surprised to find two bright yellow eyes peering up at him. Upon arrival at the Raptor Hospital, the team were dismayed to find a severely broken wing, which had broken the skin and caused a lot of bleeding. Unfortunately, in these cases, we must opt for euthanasia as the success rate of an operation to fix the damage is so low, it compromises the welfare of the bird.
A couple of days later, Susan received a message via her partner Hugh (who does our bird ringing) about another Short-eared Owl that had been found in need of help. This one was found late in the evening on a country road and was very wet and soggy, following the damp weather. It was kept overnight by the finder, then transported to Susan and Hugh for onward transfer to the Raptor Hospital. A quick assessment showed that the bird had no injuries, so they were able to ring and take biometrics. This revealed that the bird was a young male, and therefore undertaking his first migration.
Susan took the Owl to the Hospital for a more thorough assessment, and he was given a protein boost before being taken for release. Unfortunately, the blustery conditions meant he was very reluctant to leave the safety of the box, and after trying several sites with no success, he was returned to the Raptor Hospital for an overnight stay.
The following morning was much calmer, so the team took him to a local site. He was still reluctant to leave, but once tipped gently out of the box, he gathered his bearings and flew off strongly. Everyone marvelled at how huge they appear in flight, yet in the hand they are not much bigger than our Long-eared Owl.
We wish this Owl happy and safe travels and hope that he might be found sometime in the future to reveal where he gets to.