Barn Owls #16-0720 -- #16-0723

Species Name (EN): 
Species Name (LA): 
Admission Date: 
May 17, 2016
Location of Rescue: 
Rockingham County, VA
Cause of Admission / Condition: 
Nest destruction
Prognosis: 
ood
Outcome: 
Released in August 2016
Patient Status: 
Patient Archive
Released

In mid-May, a nest of Barn Owls was found in a silo in Rockingham County, Virginia. The nest was destroyed when the cattle feed in the silo was removed, and the four Barn Owl chicks in the nest came to the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

Barn Owls are known for nesting in man-made structures, and unfortunately, populations have suffered because of this close contact with humans. According to the Virginia Department of Inland Fisheries website, “Different in many ways than the other owls, barn owls have become the most dependent on man. They are found almost entirely in manmade structures, especially abandoned silos, barns, or even duck blinds. The principle diet of this owl species is voles, especially meadow voles. Their primary hunting grounds are abandoned fields, pastures, and marshy areas. This owl has suffered greatly from the unrestricted use of rodenticides around farm buildings where many have died after eating poisoned rats and mice.” Read more about Barn Owls in our Frequently Asked Questions.

All four Barn Own chicks were slightly dehydrated but healthy and were quickly moved to a small outdoor enclosure to limit their contact with humans.

 

 

During the following weeks, the chicks ate well and gained weight. They are currently residing in the Center’s aviary, since so many other flight pens are full of recovering raptor patients!

Your special donation will help the Center to provide specialized care to these Barn Owls ... and all of the patients admitted in 2016. Please help!

Updates

August 25, 2016

In mid-July, the rehabilitation staff split the Barn Owlet group into two flight pens; owlets #16-0720 and #16-0721 were moved to a pen together, and owlets #16-0722 and #16-0723 were housed together. The owlets were exercised daily until they reached their optimum level of flight and stamina.

Each duo of young owls was offered live mice for practice hunting during the month following their separation.

By August 9, Barn Owlets #16-0722 and #16-0723 were ready for official mouse school and passed five nights in a row by successfully hunting the mice. On August 17, the initial rescuers transported the owls for release in Rockingham County near the farm where they were found.

The two remaining owlets #16-0720 and #16-0721 were ready for release on August 24; the initial rescuers returned to the Center to transport the owlets for release near their farm.
 

July 12, 2016

The four young Barn Owls are growing up quickly; their flight feathers are grown in, and at the end of June, the rehabilitation staff decided it was time to move the birds to a larger space. On June 30, the four owls were moved to a larger flight enclosure [FP6].

Barn Owl chicks are typically independent of their parents three to five weeks after they begin flying; the rehabilitation staff estimate that these owl chicks will be ready to go mid-August. During the week of July 11, the owls will be split into two group so that they can safely be exercised in flight pens. The birds will periodically receive live prey for hunting practice; in the week prior to their release, they'll receive only live prey so that they are prepared for life in the wild.
 

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