It does look unusually groggy. It doesn't look like it was sedated, so I was a bit confused looking at it myself.
My app kept crashing so I quit while I was ahead with this attempt.
He's def gonna eat that bird considering the mood he's in...
It is only about 8 weeks from when they hatch to being out flying around on their own. They grow tremendously quickly.
From Chris-Lisa Thomison
Birds of prey grow rapidly.
The first photo is Bronwyn on arrival day (2/24). The second and third photo are from yesterday (3/6). You can just about sit and watch them growing.
From Raptor Center of Tampa Bay
We attempted to reunite this young great horned owl with its parents; however, it continued to be found on the ground daily, and today it placed itself in harm's way.
Although it was rumored to have been bumped by a golf cart, we observed that the owlet is feisty and exhibits appropriate defensive responses to humans. The bird appears slightly underweight, and we will conduct an X-ray examination over the weekend to confirm its overall health.
Previously, we responded to a call about this owlet when it was perched in a tree, but today it was on the ground, prompting our decision to take it in for evaluation after three incidents. We plan to X-ray its right shoulder on Sunday. Following the X- ray examination, we will determine the most suitable course of action for the owlet's care. Based on its size and demeanor, we suspect that it may be a female.
We extend our gratitude to Heather for rescuing the owlet in Winter Haven, Cathy and Lloyd for serving as a meeting point, and to Quirssa for transporting the owlet from Bartow here!
Heather, Cathy & Lloydi, Quirssa and her niece are our earth heroes today. It was so adorable when I shut the box she said goodbye Owl, I love you! Children learning respect for wildlife at an early age will help us save the planet!
From Blackland Prairie Raptor Center
This eastern Screech owl had an injured wing. Our Raptor Clinic staff removed the original (white) bandage. We put a new blue bandage on that is stiff and hard to bend in order to prevent the owl from doing further damage to the injury. Owls like to peck at things that are not natural to their body, such as bandages. We put some gray tabs on the end of the bandage. The owl can pick at the gray tabs without doing hard to the bandage. Such a good patient!
From Japan Experience
Blakiston's fish owl, the world's largest living owl species, is a rare bird found only in riparian forests of northeast Asia, including Japan, China, and the Russian Far East. Standing up to 75 cm (30 inches) tall with a 190 cm (75 inches / 7 feet, 3 inches) wingspan and weighing as much as 4.6 kg (10 pounds), the Blakiston's fish owl is a prodigious avian predator. However, this fascinating bird now faces extinction due to loss and fragmentation of its forest habitat, especially the big, old trees it requires for nesting. Blakiston's fish owl is currently listed as endangered by the IUCN, with only around 1,000 to 1,500 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.
Description and taxonomy of a rare giant
First described scientifically in 1884 by Henry Seebohm, Blakiston's fish owl is named after the English naturalist Thomas Blakiston, who collected the type specimen in Hokkaido, Japan. It is classified in the genus Ketupa along with three other fish owl species, although genetic evidence suggests Blakiston's is actually more closely related to the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo). Two subspecies are recognized - B. b. blakistoni in Japan and the southern Kuril islands, and B. b. doerriesi on the Asian mainland.
The Blakiston's fish owl is a very large bird, even by eagle-owl standards. It has a barrel-shaped body, broad head with prominent ear tufts, massive yellow bill, and large, powerful talons. The upperparts are tawny brown barred and streaked with darker brown, while the underparts are paler with dark streaks. The facial disc is grayish-white with black border. Eye color is a piercing yellow.
Unique adaptations for fishing and riverine life
Blakiston's fish owl possesses several physical and behavioral adaptations for catching and processing fish, its primary prey. The legs and toes are unfeathered, an unusual trait for an owl, with spiky scales on the undersides providing grip on slippery fish. The talons are exceptionally long and curved for snatching fish out of rivers and streams. Unusually for an owl, Blakiston's fish owl has a deep, resonant voice that travels well across water.
Blakiston's Fish Owl with typical, small fish prey. They usually consume prey head first.
This owl hunts primarily by waiting on a perch and watching for fish to come near the surface, then dropping down to snatch them with its talons. It also wades in shallow water to catch fish and can reportedly submerge fully to grab salmon. Other prey like frogs and small mammals are taken opportunistically. Blakiston's fish owls have been seen using fallen logs as "fishing platforms" and following the Japanese crested ibis to scavenge dead fish they leave behind.
The bare toes, massive roughened pads and long claws are the marks of a consummate predator.
Habitat needs: old-growth forests near unfrozen rivers
The Blakiston's fish owl inhabits old-growth forests along rivers, lakes, and coasts that don't completely freeze over, as it requires access to fish year-round. Its distribution is highly fragmented across this specialized riverine habitat. The species shows a strong preference for forests with large trees, snags, and fallen logs that provide cavities and platforms for nesting and hunting perches. Mature forests over 200 years old are considered optimal fish owl habitat.
In Russia, key tree species used by fish owls include Japanese poplar, chosenia, elm, Mongolian oak, and stone birch. Nest and roost site availability is a major limiting factor. Blakiston's fish owl pairs maintain large territories that can span over 15 km of river length.
Many of the rivers in their range freeze over in winter making fish inaccessible forcing Blakiston's Fish Owls to look elsewhere and for different prey.
Breeding biology and family life in fish owl pairs
Blakiston's fish owls form monogamous pair bonds and defend the same territory together year-round. Breeding occurs from February to May depending on latitude. The female lays 1-3 eggs (usually 2) in a nest cavity, rock crevice, or rarely an abandoned raptor stick nest. She incubates for about 35 days while the male delivers food.
The semi-altricial owlets hatch covered in white down. They are brooded by the female while the male continues providing fish, frogs, and occasionally mammals and birds. The young fledge at 35-40 days but remain with their parents for up to 2 years, an unusually long period of post-fledging care for owls. During salmon spawning season, fledglings beg loudly as their parents bring fish from the river throughout the day and night.
Its only in young owls, before the head is fully feathered, that the true size of the massive bill is visible. This downy fledgling Blakiston's Fish Owl already has the bright yellow eyes typical of the species.
Spiritual significance for the Ainu people of Japan
The Ainu people, the indigenous inhabitants of Hokkaido, consider the Blakiston's fish owl a kotan-kor-kamuy or "god that protects the village". Ainu folklore portrays the owl (known as kotan koru ekashi) as a messenger to the gods that informs them of human activities. The Ainu people have many stories about the fish owl, which they believe has the power to bring good fortune in fishing and hunting.
Even today, the Blakiston's fish owl is seen as an important cultural symbol in Hokkaido. Images and carvings of the owl are popular in Ainu artwork. The Ainu believe that careful stewardship is required for humans to maintain a harmonious relationship with the fish owl and the natural world it represents.
Threats to survival: logging, poaching, overfishing
The primary threats to the Blakiston's fish owl are logging of old-growth riverine forests, which destroys nesting and roosting sites, and development of river valleys for agriculture, roads, and settlements, which disturbs and fragments habitat. Dams and channelization of rivers degrades stream conditions for the owl's fish prey.
Overfishing, pollution, and climate change also impact salmon populations that fish owls depend on. In Russia, many owls drown in nets set illegally for salmon poaching. Owls are sometimes shot purposefully or hit by cars along roads at night. As human activity expands into wilderness areas, conflicts with fish owls increase.Survival of adult owls is critical as the species has a slow reproductive rate.
Conservation champions and their quest to save the species Scientists and conservationists are working hard in Japan and Russia to study and protect the Blakiston's fish owl. In Hokkaido, nest boxes are being installed to provide more habitat as natural cavities in old trees become rare. Supplemental feeding programs provide fish to owls when rivers freeze in winter.
In Primorye, Russia, Jonathan Slaght of the Wildlife Conservation Society has spent years tracking fish owls, mapping their habitat, and working with logging companies to protect the most critical old-growth forest areas for fish owls. This has expanded protected habitat from 19% to over 60% of potential fish owl range in the region.
Researchers in both countries continue to monitor fish owl populations and work with government, industry, and local communities to reduce threats. Increasing public awareness and pride in this majestic bird helps build support for conservation. Recovery is a long-term process, but crucial gains are being made.
The author with an early prototype Blakiston's Fish Owl nest box, obtains a fish owl's view from a tree still far too young to have a suitable natural nesting cavity.
The fish owl's future: can this mysterious bird be pulled back from the brink?
With a world population hovering around 1,000 birds and habitat under continued pressure, the Blakiston's fish owl faces an uncertain future. But there are signs of hope. Collaborative conservation efforts by passionate scientists and concerned citizens in Russia and Japan have slowed the decline and demonstrate that recovery is possible with enough public and political will.
Much remains to be discovered about this elusive species that is more often heard than seen. Advances in GPS tracking, remote cameras, and genetic techniques are yielding new insights that can inform conservation strategies. By carefully managing old-growth forests, river habitats, and fish populations, we may yet secure a place in the wild for this spectacular owl to flourish as a vital part of Asian ecosystems and Japanese and Russian cultural heritage.
There is something undeniably charismatic and compelling about a bird as wild and rare as the Blakiston's fish owl. It captures our imagination and ignites our passion to protect what is left of the untamed landscapes it inhabits. The sound of its deep, booming duet echoing through the night forest is a symbol of nature's awe-inspiring mystery and majesty. The future of this species and the ecosystems it represents will depend on whether we can summon the determination to be worthy stewards of our shared planet. The fate of the fish owl will reflect our own.
From Raptors Rise Rehab Center
Precious Barry, the Barred Owl came to us a long time ago. He was hit by a car and his beak was broken in several places.
We used surgical glue and secured it the best we could. We did that to reinforce it so hopefully it wouldn't break off. We cut his food for him and were cautious about what we fed him. If he tried to pull his food apart that beak would surely break off. We made the decision to overwinter Barry to give the beak time to grow out.
I am happy to say that it worked and Barry went home yesterday evening! His rescuer Tim did the honors and it was a beautiful release!
Above photo was taken before the beak got a final shaping and sharpening.
Intake Photo (a bit ouchy looking)
Halfway Grown Back
From Jason Tiesman
There's a resident pair of these beautiful Black and White Owls that roost inside this beautiful forest. I see them every time I visit here. They're not always in the same place, but with some persistence you can find them. Felt really accomplished after catching this one exactly at the right moment. Eyes started to open, some preening and then a big ol stretch. Hope you enjoy this image. Shot was taken at Bogarin Trail in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
From Alex Vazquez
Apex energy
Great horned owl with prey
Central Florida
From Ricky Roman
Beauty is not the point, but when they provide an opportunity to capture it, I do my best to do it justice with my lens.
From phys.org
This Journal of Raptor Research (Note: I'll share this in the comments section) issue focuses on movement ecology—how and why raptors move. This can include classic movements like migration, as well as nomadism.
Short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) fall into the latter category—they have a penchant for small mammals that breed in "boom and bust" cycles approximately every four years. Therefore, these owls must travel great distances to find prey in sufficient numbers. This requires a high degree of nuanced perception, yet we know very little about the actual mechanisms that allow an owl to accurately locate these peaks in prey cycles.
A feature article in the new issue, titled "Irruptive Movements by Short-eared Owls and Concepts of Habitat Use: Commentary and Suggestions to Address Information Gaps," emphasizes the need for more understanding about this phenomenon, and proposes eight research questions to guide future work.
Changing climate regimes can severely impact where and when small mammals show up on the landscape, especially in the tundra, where many predators rely on their presence. There is an increased need for conservation leaders to understand the decision-making of species whose survival is linked to these ephemeral pulses in prey, and owls are a strong choice for future investigation.
Short-eared owls are medium-sized raptors with speckled golden plumage and bright yellow eyes. They are widely distributed across the globe and hunt in open country, typically following the presence of voles, lemmings, shrews, mice, and other small mammals. They cannot afford to settle down in one place year after year like many other raptors because of the shifting patterns of their prey.
"There appears to be a great deal of complexity associated with decisions made by irruptive and nomadic species about whether to settle in a territory or move elsewhere," says author Joe Buchanan.
Short-eared owls hatch asynchronously, a strategy towards countering changes in food supply—the bigger, older chicks can eat the younger ones. Short-eared owls, however, specialize in prey that can be highly unpredictable and can exhibit high degrees of nomadism to locate areas of high prey availability to maximize their chances of rearing large broods.
Short-eared owls have a short lifespan and the size of their brood shifts depending on how much food is available—when there are many small mammals available, the owls lay up to 10 eggs. In years of scarcity, maybe only two eggs. This gives them a life history strategy atypical for vertebrate predators, which are usually long-lived and consistently raise few young.
The authors of the Letter propose more research on the relationship between short-eared owl movements, behavior, and habitat selection. They acknowledge that the dovetailing of these topics is complex but underscore the importance of a deeper research dive.
"How this predator navigates the erratically undulating tapestry of food abundance that spans thousands of miles remains a mystery," says the author of the Letter, Travis Booms, "yet it is an integral part of their life history and a key component to their conservation and persistence." This is likely a truism for other nomadic species linked to vole and lemming cycles, such as the snowy owl (Bubo scandinavius).
Short-eared owls, like other top predators, are bioindicators. They are sensitive to environmental change and provide cues on the health of their surrounding environments. Booms, Buchanan, and their co-authors propose that the density of short-eared owls could provide a strong indication that a habitat is of high quality because the owls only settle if there is a reliable abundance of prey.
As denizens of open landscapes, this species is also an important ecological link in quickly vanishing habitats like grasslands, which have shrunk to a fraction of their former range worldwide, forcing the species to, as co-author John Callidine describes it, "Travel Far, Breed Hard, and Die Young."
From Pelican Harbor Seabird Station
This Burrowing Owl had been stuck in a parking garage for quite a while before we were called to help 😱 In these photos, she may not look thrilled about us trying to help... and we don't blame her! But rest assured, our team is doing everything we can to care for her, so she can recover and return to the wild - exactly where she belongs🦉🤍
From David Dunlop
This Owl is so smart. It's always trying to hide from the many photographers out there 🤣🤣
From Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehab Center
These two Eastern Screech Owl fledglings are a sign that baby bird season is right around the corner! They were found orphaned outside of Miami as nestlings. The pair have been eating and becoming more feisty everyday.
It is important to know that while they are cute, baby birds are very high maintenance and require specialized care. If you find an injured or displaced bird be sure to bring it to your closed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.
Baby birds grow so fast! Once they hatch, it's only about 8 weeks until they're fully grown. That doesn't leave much room for mistakes in care.
From their first meal, they need whole prey. Different parts of animal contain different things they're growing bodies need. Improper feeding can damage bones, feathers, and organs which will negatively affect the owl's chance of survival.
This Japanese style curry powder tastes really good in a Japanese style curry.
It tastes similar to the S&B curry in the can, but fresher and without the orange peel. I should try adding some zest sometime, but otherwise it uses all things I have on hand. If I have S&B, I'll mix them half and half to get the freshness of my mix with all the secret tricks the S&B has in it.
The curry recipe is a chickpea curry, but I also sub chicken thigh chunks for the chickpeas if I want a meat curry. Just as good either way.