Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society  

BARRED OWL MOMENTS

Owls have been a source of fascination for thousands of generations. Owls are mostly nocturnal birds but can be diurnal (daytime hunters). Perceived by some as "Spooky" they appear as ghostly shapes swooping low in search of their prey. Owls are in-fact amazing birds, a personal favorite, and frequent visitors to MARS. World-wide there are over a hundred species of owls, the Comox Valley being home to the following:- Northern Saw-whet, Northern Pygmy, Western Screech, Barred, Barn and Great Horned Owls. Occasionally we are fortunate enough to be visited by Snowy, Short-eared or Boreal owls, and on very rare occasions the Burrowing Owl (listed as endangered). During exceptionally cold Arctic winters, when their food supply is sparse, Snowy owls can be seen in the valley especially on flat land. Airport runways are a favorite, as this land resembles the tundra they have left. An emaciated Short-eared owl found here this fall may have been a victim fleeing from the Interior forest fires, or caught in a storm.

Most of the owls admitted to M.A.R.S. are hit by cars. Rodents provide the largest food source for owls and often mice find food laying by the roadside discarded by humans. Owls are exceptional hunters relying on acute hearing, silent flight (due to serrated feather edges), and razor sharp talons which inflict the fatal blow to their prey. The Barred owl in the photo was one such a victim, sustaining a head trauma with bleeding and swelling behind one of her eyes. Often the wind created by a passing car is enough to cause this damage, although the owl appears large it is mostly feathers and very light. On admission the owl was kept warm and quiet in a darkened cage, (a local vet examined and determined her injury). Initially she needed to be force fed, gradually the swelling subsided and she began to self feed. Moving to a large aviary helped build up her strength (eating 4-6 mice a day) acclimatizing her for release. Had the Barred owl lost the sight of this eye she may still have been releasable. Last spring we were able to release a "one-eyed" banded Western Screech owl which had adapted and proved to be an efficient hunter. Owls are very elusive blending into their backgrounds. They hunt when most of us are sleeping but at dawn and dusk they may be seen around the forest edge, listen closely you may hear "whoo-cooks-for-yoooo" , the distinctive call of the Barred Owl.

Donations to help us feed these owls always welcome.

A reminder for Educators, contact Sandy Fairfield regarding the "Owls are a Hoot" program @337-2021, links to more owls www.wingtips.org