From Jen Marie
I don't think this burrowing owl was impressed by his likeness on the sign.
Every time he falls off the wagon, he ends up in trouble with those dang crows again....
anon6789
joined 2 years ago
It looks a little odd at first since they do have larger than average wingspans for their size that your average bird.
It's a balancing of evolutionary trade-offs for their stealthy silent flight. They have low density feathers, which cut down on noise, but also efficiency of flapping (think flapping an unfolded sheet of paper vs one folded with corrugations to make a paper fan) so they are more suited to gliding (like this Short Ear's preferred hunting style) or hunting from a perch and diving on prey. This allows them to also just flap less in general, letting them cover territory with less total flapping. I usually describe it as how a larger CPU fan is quieter since it moves a higher volume of air while running at a lower RPM vs a small fan running at high RPM to try and move the same air with small blades.
This is why hawks and other birds can fly much faster than owls, but they need that speed and sharp eyesight to hunt from far away and strike quickly. They're both great at what they do, they just take opposite approaches.
This one took some work for me, as there seemed to be a bit of slang/idiom that was making a lot of the translations come out pretty odd sounding. Facebook and Google did a pretty rough job, but this is from DeepL, and I was pretty satisfied feeling it all made sense.
It was a great post with even more pics than the ones I included here, and I wanted to do Jhonathan and the Shorties justice!
That's why I like to add the original text. Most of us seem to be English speakers, but our French and German speakers have added insight many times from having the original text included.
Lol there's some real characters in this lineup 😂
The more time goes by shows Saw Whet was a darn fine Owl of the Year for us last year.
lol all of them were released after receiving ankle monitors.
Pangolins look so adorable.
There seem to be extra challenges protecting them in the wild but I'm glad there are so many people dedicated to them, and all of our beautiful animal friends.
Taken together, the draft rules are a “very telling sign of this administration and how they view blue-collar workers…they have decided that they no longer have to care about workers at all.”
If only it was new or just this administration. Thirty years ago in high school we read a book about this same exact garbage from 1906, and it wasn't exactly news then either.
This is my guy here, so shady and scheming.
I'm still stuck at bottom middle. 😐
There's no wrong answer with a Saw Whet!
I personally lean to when they make their heads bumpy like the 3 around the bottom right.
Keep hanging in there! I'm still wishing the best for you every day.
Our first baby of the year has arrived!
This tiny Great Horned Owl is likely only a few days old. This owlet was transferred to us from the Carolina Wildlife Center after being found by a caring community member. Wanting to help, the finder followed advice they found online and offered the owlet egg yolk and sirloin.
It's important to say that this came from a place of compassion. The finder was trying their best and ultimately made the most important decision which was getting this baby in the right hands.
We do want to stress that feeding a any raptor can be dangerous. Baby birds of prey require a very specific diet, and their delicate down feathers and developing bodies can be harmed by improper food or feeding. If you find a bird that needs help, please avoid giving food or water and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator right away, like the Carolina Raptor Center.
When this owlet arrived, our team performed a careful intake exam, checked their breathing, gently cleaned egg residue from their feathers, and placed them in a warm incubator. They're now receiving specialized nutrition and expert care to ensure they have the best chance to grow up strong and return to the wild.
Want to help support and learn more about patients like this throughout the baby season? Join us for our upcoming Baby Shower on March 7th as we celebrate baby raptors and the work our dedicated team puts in to help them along in their journeys.
I love CRC! One of the first stops on my journey to becoming a raptor super-fan! Check out their Caracaras, King Vulture, and Chaco Owl!
From Braddock Bay Bird Observatory
It's Northern Saw-whet Owl season at the banding station! We aren't banding any this February due to the deep snow (we can't even get down the driveway) and the cold temperatures, but they have been sighted in the woods surrounding us.
These photos of nine different owls from the fall of 2020 and the spring of 2021 show how much variation there is in the coloration and expression of these tiny hunters.
These compilations come out every so often From different banding projects and are always some of my favorites. I love seeing the variety of features they have.
From Jhonathan Miranda
For years I had wanted to see this owl, but it was only yesterday that I finally managed to see it. It is Asio flammeus - Short-eared Owl. The species is quite rare in Venezuela, where most records date back more than 20 years. This gem hunts during the day, and it doesn't just swoop down to capture its prey; it performs a series of fascinating maneuvers that are truly beautiful to watch. It glides very close to the ground, quite slowly, and suddenly brakes in the air, turns around and dives towards the ground, stretching out one of its legs, touching the ground, jumping and diving again... sometimes it stays hidden on the ground or sometimes it continues flying.
But the show doesn't end with its hunt, it also flies with a “smug look on its face,” although it also seems to have a “look of extreme laziness.” It's very curious that it always flies with its eyelids half closed and even with its eyes closed. I suppose its eyes capture too much light and it has to regulate that opening somehow so as not to be completely dazzled. A super interesting owl.
We waited eight hours for it, but it was 100% worth the wait. I think it's the easiest bird in flight to photograph, as it glides very slowly and moves quite predictably. I think it's been my favorite bird so far this year, and possibly the most beautiful owl. And yes, my 1310th/1433rd species in Venezuela!
The downside, like many other owls, is that it is unfortunately sought after by practitioners of Santeria for their sacrifices and rituals. It is also poisoned by the use of pesticides and hunted due to human ignorance.
Original Spanish Text
Por años había querido ver a este búho, pero fue ayer cuando por fin logré verlo, el es Asio flammeus - Short- eared Owl. La especie es bastante poco abundante en Venezuela, donde la mayoría de los registros son de hace más de 20 años. Está joya caza durante el día, y no es solo que se lanza a capturar presas, es que hace una serie de maniobras interesantísimas y realmente hermoso de ver. Planea muy cerca del suelo, bastante lento, y súbitamente frena en el aire, da un giro y se lanza sobre el suelo estirando una de sus patas, toca el suelo, salta y se vuelve a lanzar... a veces se queda escondido en el suelo o a veces sigue el vuelo.
Pero el espectáculo no termina en su cacería, es que además va volando "con cara de presumido", aunque también parece tener "cara de flojera extrema". Y es que es bien curioso que vaya volando siempre con los párpados a la mitad e incluso con los ojos cerrados. Supongo que sus ojos captan demasiada luz y de alguna manera tiene que regular esa apertura para no estar totalmente encandilado. Súper interesante búho.
Duramos 8 horas esperándole, pero valió 100% la pena la espera, creo que es el ave en vuelo más fácil de fotografiar, pues planea muy lento y se mueve bastante predecible. Creo que ha sido mi ave favorita en lo que va de este año, y posiblemente el búho más bonito. Y si, mi especie 1310/1433 en Venezuela!
Lo malo, como muchas otros búhos, lamentablemente es buscado por practicantes de la Santería para hacer sus sacrificios y rituales, también es envenenada por el uso de pesticidas y cazada por ignorancia humana.
From Julie Price
Nature's Slight of Hand
Found these two little Bark Nuggets recently. Proof that camouflage really is one of nature's best magic tricks.
Eastern Screech Owls
From A Place Called Hope
OK, something light to make you smile!! Orion with his favorite stuffie.
Orion is a solo ambassador Northern Saw Whet Owl at A Place Called Hope. He is solo because his room mate passed away from old age. He desperately needs a buddy, but we don't wish harm on any Saw Whet out there!! If one comes along that can not be released due to an injury that would compromise survival in the wild, we will apply for acquisition. Until then, the stuffie will need to do.
Orion is not young himself, and he does have a few mirrors in his aviary. I can't say I have ever caught him looking at the mirrors, but this stuffie he is often seated next to. Perhaps the eyes are the attraction? Awwww... hearts to Orion!
From Montana Wild Wings
Speaking for all of us at Montana Wild Wings Recovery, Oliver and Newton wanted to sincerely thank Tito's Vodka for their generous contribution. We will use the contribution to further our education program which Oliver (northern saw whet owl) and Newton (northern pygmy owl) are both a part of. Thank you!
Tito's not only makes great vodka but it also supports a lot of other worthwhile organizations and projects - check them out here.
It looks like Tito's is a continuing sponsor of the work at MTWW and a number of other pro-animal organizations. Good for them!
Here's a display from last year showing thanks for a previous contribution. I like the idea of putting the display feathers on sticks for easy handling and ID. I'm going to have to steal that for my open house display.
Also crazy to see a Saw Whet and Pygmy together. I've only seen a Saw Whet's eyeballs peering at me from a dark corner so I've never seen how tiny they are, and to see a Pygmy Owl next to it makes them seem reeeeeeally small.
SWO: 20 cm, 7 in, 80 g, 2.8 oz
Northern Pygmy: 16 cm, 6 inches, 65 g, 2.3 oz
Barred Owl, Pinellas County, Florida (February 5, 2026)
Sony A9ii/Sony FE 200 - 600 mm G OSS 1/100 sec, f/6.3, ISO 8000, 250 mm
From Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
As the phone continues to ring and the number of admissions rises, we have admitted an Eastern Screech Owl (Red Phase), bringing our total of current Screech Owls in our care to ten. This owl was found along the road, as these little guys are often hunting in such areas. Eastern Screech Owls are truly amazing; when found, they sometimes appear to be "playing possum."
These owls use a form of torpor, a short-term, energy- saving state with a lower body temperature, to survive cold winter days. While this is not true hibernation, it allows them to conserve energy during cold spells or when food is scarce. They often roost in tree cavities during these times, sometimes sharing these spaces with other owls for warmth. They can enter this torpid state to trick predators into thinking they are dead or so motionless that they blend into the tree or brush around them.
This particular owl, which is being weighed this morning, is exhibiting this behavior. Additionally, Eastern Screech Owls have what are commonly referred to as "horns" on top of their heads. However, these are not actual horns; they are called plumicorns. These feather tufts serve a purpose: they facilitate communication, display, and expression. Plumicorns help disrupt the owl's outline, enabling it to blend into tree bark, branches, or shadows. By altering their smooth silhouette, owls can remain nearly invisible while roosting during the day.
Unfortunately, this Screech Owl suffered an injury when it was clipped by a car, but we are confident it will make a full recovery. Don't let their size and cuteness fool you; these little creatures are tough, resilient, and skilled hunters.
From Kenny Brooks
A picture, a bird, a moment, whatever gets you out there for those early cold starts these moments for me say more than words ever could...
From Leo Caplette
Rescued this poor Great Horned Owl this morning in Florida. He got caught in a torrential rain storm and was soaked. The crows then decided to beat him up. He's now in the hospital getting evaluated by the Veterinarian. Beautiful eyes and fuzzy murder mittens! 😍
From The Raptor Center
Of the hundreds of birds released from TRC's hospital each year, many of them spend 1 - 3 months in our care. But several of our patients need to stay in our hospital over the winter.
Some of these are young birds of species that stick around during the winter.
Senior vet tech Corryn shares, "If a raptor is in its first year of life and is admitted to TRC's hospital before it has had the opportunity to hunt in winter conditions, we will not release it into the deep winter with cold temps and deep snow, or it would be at a significant disadvantage." Once healed, we house these birds outside, helping to reduce their stress from human activity and providing them with more natural living conditions.
Other overwintering birds belong to migratory species. Raptors such as board-winged hawks, osprey, and some falcon species sometimes miss their migration window while healing in our care. Broad-winged hawks, for example, must begin their southward journey by mid-October, as they lack the adaptations required for harsh winter conditions and their food sources become scarce.
For their care, Corryn explained, "Since they are species that would not live here through a Minnesota winter, they are housed indoors. Their perches, substrate, water pans, and other items are switched out regularly, providing novel items for them to engage with and keeping them healthy."
The timeframe for release varies by species and the individual patients' medical needs. "But as a general rule," Corryn explained, "we aim to release migratory species when other birds of the same species are traveling through the area in large numbers."
The migratory raptors currently in our care have a little way to go before their wild companions start their spring arrival. In the meantime, they continue to receive tailored, nutritious diets, regular medical checks, and safety from the elements as they await a spring release.
In these photos, you see a few of the TRC hospital's winter residents awaiting spring release: a northern saw-whet owl, 3 barred owls, and a red-tailed hawk.
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Last year I was feeling really down on people and how the world was going. I signed up for a volunteer gig to get outside and be a little productive.
I mainly expected the work to be satisfying, which it was, but my biggest surprise was how great being around like-minded people that also wanted to make our community better felt.
It feels more like hanging out with friends, even though we're busy as hell, and not like a job because we're all there by choice, and we get to see on a daily basis how our efforts are helping. It may only be a drop in the bucket, but it's not as though we're the only group working for our cause.
It's one of the most satisfying choices I've ever made in my life, and if you can find time (my commitment is 4 hours a week for half the year) it may improve your outlook on things if you're feeling like everything around you is bad.