Owls in Towels
This Screech Owl was left unable to fly due to (sadly) some very ignorant human activity. Thankfully, rescuers took him to wildlife experts at Owl Whisperer so his feathers can grow back. Donation link: https://owlwhispererws.wixsite.com/owl-whisperer-1/donaciones-1 Source: https://instagram.com/p/DYewkLqEc_V #owlsintowels 💛🦉 🇵🇦
Jun 16 at 5:07amWeb
Show threadOwls in TowelsJun 16
Cute though this Screech Owl might be, the reason for admission is anything but. Some person - misguided, ignorant, or both - clipped the owl's flight feathers, intending to keep as a pet, senseless to the fact this is a wild animal unsuited to captivity. A crucial reminder that owls are not pets.
Show threadcatraxx Jun 16
@owlsintowels Even if it wasn't wild, i still don't think that is something anyone should do. If you can not afford to build a proper enclosure for the animal, you should not even begin to think about keeping one.
Show threadcoldclimateJun 16
@owlsintowels poor little bastard
Show threadRyanJun 16
@owlsintowels how long will it take for it to recover?
Show threadOwls in TowelsJun 16

@fullywoolly

From what I can tell they generally undergo a moult of feathers once a year during the late summer to early fall/autumn, which takes 2-3 months. So this Screech Owl will be having a long stay at the bnb before he can return to the wild 🛌 ☕️

A 2018 paper 'Moult in Birds of Prey' has more info: https://bioone.org/journals/ardeola/volume-65/issue-2/arla.65.2.2018.rp1/Moult-in-Birds-of-Prey--A-Review-of-Current/10.13157/arla.65.2.2018.rp1.full

Show threadRyanJun 16
@owlsintowels thanks for the info and more reading!
Show threadbees and natureJun 16
@owlsintowels awful!
Show threadHerman 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇾🇪🍋Jun 18
@owlsintowels ❤️