Superbowl
From [Cynthia Rand](https://www.facebook.com/groups/413227880972276/permalink/842046078090452/) >Two of my favorite things came together in one scene last night, a Screech Owl in the fall foliage!
From [Tin Chan](https://www.facebook.com/groups/741298672623286/permalink/8535626966523712/?app=fbl) Pair of Short Eared Owls in flight.
From [Kirsten Spencer](https://www.facebook.com/groups/413227880972276/permalink/841418294819897/) >Photographing this guy was a hoot!
From [Freedom First Wildlife Rehab](https://www.facebook.com/100064707247872/posts/pfbid02y2mpvkzDg1snWaWWKEyegwjr1TsoioNHdMDPX9226CwrbSUuoJBZGtvGyMiwBkBAl/) >Another small, male barred owl arrived today from Brooklyn, CT with an old injury to his wing. This first year owl has been surviving around a water source by eating amphibians and other ground dwelling insects and any other small rodents he came across but as the weather has turned cooler , he has lost significant food sources. He has minimal low flight and is at high risk of predation and starvation. We will be carefully evaluating his potential for independence. Thank you for Sherry Hart from Nutmeg Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation for wading through the muck to rescue this owl! Additional thanks to Nicole Bennett for transporting the owl to us today! It truly takes a team to care for CT wildlife
From [John Crooks](https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildlifeworldphotographers/permalink/2426745040854463/) Barn Owl returning with a meal.
From the [National Aviary](https://www.facebook.com/100064674014545/posts/pfbid0Kd6V3QNMz88aqEdHfQMpwW7RojJ2NUZPifqwZ8s5fP5uJrajFCbUWvcfTNyjQpvQl/?app=fbl) >The National Aviary is dedicated to avian conservation. Our efforts in safeguarding the majestic Eurasian Eagle -Owl population are a testament to that commitment. Facing severe declines throughout Europe in the 1900s, these incredible birds still experience challenges today, such as habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and infrastructure collisions. > >Through our work with The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Eurasian Eagle-Owl Species Survival Plan® (SSP), we've made a significant positive impact on growing their population in human care. Thanks to our amazing owl parents, X (mom) and Dumbledore (dad), we've welcomed 12 chicks into the SSP program, including our newest Animal Ambassador, Vera! > >By maintaining a genetically diverse population for at- risk species and studying their behaviors, we're taking proactive steps to ensure their future survival and alleviate the environmental and human-led pressures faced by declining populations. Learn more about the [AZA SSP program here](https://www.aza.org/species-survival-plan-programs). Learn more about the [Eagle Owl SSP here](http://www.raptortag.com/eurasian-eagle-owl-ssp.html). These 2 little ones hatched in April this year. I missed getting to see them by a week, but I did see both parents!
[Link to Youtube Trailer](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50129415851_14d4d296b0_b.jpg) Coming 15 Nov, a new animated short will be released staring and owl character based on the real life owl found in the 2020 Rockafeller Center tree that was rescued and released back into the wild. About the real life Rocky (from [People](https://people.com/pets/tiny-owl-found-stuck-in-the-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-released-back-into-the-wild/)): >Rockefeller "Rocky" the Saw-whet owl was released near Saugerties, New York, after receiving a clean bill of health from his rescuers, avian veterinarians, and owl researchers. >The rehab center, located in Saugerties, New York, started caring for the bird on Nov. 16, after it was driven to the rescue by the wife of a man who helped transport Rockefeller Center's famous tree this year. The man found the owl tucked in the branches of the Norway spruce, which was cut down in Oneonta, New York, while setting up the towering tree in New York City. > >"What I suspect was that it was in the tree when they cut it down and it probably got trapped when they wrapped the tree in some of the branches. It was there for I think what was a three-day journey to New York City and wasn’t found until they released the branches," Ellen Kalish, the director and founder of the wildlife center, told NBC New York about how she thinks Rockefeller – or Rocky for short – ended up in his festive predicament. >Rockefeller was released near the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center by Kalish. After sitting on the rescuer's outstretched hand for a few moments, the little bird flew off on his own, quickly finding a new tree to perch in. About the upcoming short: It is written by Alfonso Cuarón, who has directed such things as Prisoner of Azkaban, Gravity, Roma, and Children of Men. Plot summary from [imdb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33395815/) says: >Moon, a curious young owl, unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost young girl named Luna, and together, they must find a way to reunite with their parents.
Last week's news about [new protections for California's Burrow Owls](https://lemmy.world/post/20773544) was not totally positive news for everyone. Sometimes there is conflict between doing one good thing (protecting plants/animals) and doing another (expanding renewable energy projects). This opinion article discusses some of the overlap in area that is good for the owls that is also prime for handling California's energy goals. From [Nautura Hoy](https://www.naturahoy.com/2024/10/boiling-point-burrowing-owls-and-solar-farms-will-need-to-coexist/): >If you don’t love burrowing owls, you’ve probably never seen a burrowing owl. > >They’re 7 to 10 inches tall, with bright yellow eyes and long, skinny legs. The western variety doesn’t even dig its own underground burrows. It depends on other critters, such as ground squirrels and desert tortoises. > >Building solar projects in spots where burrowing owls are struggling to survive would be a terrible idea, right? > >I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: If only the world were so simple. > >As my L.A. Times colleague Lila Seidman reports, the California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously last week to make the bird a candidate for protection under the state’s Endangered Species Act. In practice, that means burrowing owls will be protected under the law for the next 12 to 18 months, while state wildlife officials study whether the adorable bird deserves permanent status as a “threatened” or “endangered” species. > >Two decades ago, there were as many as 10,500 breeding pairs of burrowing owls in the Golden State, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Now there are just 6,500 pairs, the department estimates. > >Suburban sprawl was the biggest culprit, conservation groups say, with residential and commercial development tearing up owl habitat across the state and giving the funky little birds precious little space to nest and breed. > >But other industries contributed to habitat fragmentation and destruction too — including renewable energy. > >Not many wind farms are being built in California these days, at least on the shore; the windiest spots have long been taken. But lots of massive solar farms are being planned and built to replace planet-wrecking fossil fuels. > >Conservation activists want state officials to impose new requirements on energy companies looking to build in burrowing owl habitat — requiring them to pay for the permanent protection of breeding grounds, for instance. Activists also hope state officials will block construction of solar projects in the best spots for burrowing owls. > >“We can have abundant burrowing owls and abundant solar development,” said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “I don’t think the [protections] will slow solar development.” > >I hope he’s right. But I’m a little anxious. > >It’s not just burrowing owl advocates who are concerned about the the consequences of solar sprawl. It’s desert tortoise advocates and Joshua tree advocates. It’s rural residents who don’t want solar in the backyards, and farmers who don’t want solar projects taking away cropland — even when they don’t have enough water for all their crops. > >If only we could put all the solar panels we need to replace fossil fuels on rooftops, warehouses and parking lots, this problem would be easy to solve. Alas, even optimistic researchers say we wouldn’t come anywhere close. > >There are also valuable opportunities to build solar in “low-harm” spots — abandoned farmlands, former mines, contaminated Superfund sites, oil and gas fields, landfills, even strips of land along highways. A report released this month by the Roosevelt Institute and the Climate and Community Institute estimated that the United States has nearly 226 million acres of such land — an order of magnitude more land than we’ll ever need for solar. > >Again, if only the world were so simple. > >Conservationists have been touting low-conflict solar sites for a long time; there have been optimistic reports like this one before. Yet so far, there have been only a handful of projects built in truly low-conflict spots, such as a set of solar panels over a canal that were switched on this month by Arizona’s Gila River Indian Community. > >There are lots of reasons for the dearth of progress. In some cases, the low-harm spots aren’t near electric lines, which are needed to send power to customers; in others, developers aren’t willing to take on the financial liability of building on a toxic Superfund site. Some private landowners aren’t willing to sell — not currently a problem on federal lands, where the Biden administration has made renewable energy development a top priority. > >“If you have a site that’s relatively flat, and it’s got low species conflict, and you don’t have developers flocking to it, then you have a problem with that area,” said Shannon Eddy, executive director of the Large-scale Solar Assn. > >So I like the idea of more solar on low-harm lands. I hope it happens. But scientists say we have six years to slash climate pollution more than 40%. So for now, I plan to keep penning columns like this one, supporting flawed but well-meaning efforts by the Biden administration and others to balance renewable energy and conservation. > >And as for burrowing owls? > >The Large-scale Solar Assn. supports endangered species protections for the tiny bird. Eddy told me her member companies spent much of this year preparing for last week’s vote, identifying 15 project sites in the Central Valley and Imperial Valley with signs of owl habitation and working with biologists to craft a conservation strategy. > >Still, developers have some concerns about how the process will play out. There will now be new permits to apply for, new financial obstacles to clear. Depending on what state wildlife officials do next, solar companies could find themselves facing new delays and costs that make it even harder for California to meet its climate goals. > >“This is a curveball,” Eddy said.
From [Faruk Kizil](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1393152234277353/permalink/3844106675848551/?app=fbl) A pair of Tawny Owls. I missed the second one on my first glance.
From [South Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke](https://www.facebook.com/100064494530263/posts/pfbid0nfnm5m2CvqHzVJuVkDJiA3BAjZoh9rcfyhRu8pQSgJdevwUgDs1isFPz2NiHyMNhl/?app=fbl) >How handsome is this Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)? > >This is Patient EASO #2024-1711, aka the "Homecoming EASO!" > >While we don't actually name our patients out of respect for their wildness, some unique cases get nicknames related to an interesting origin story, personality trait, or condition they're dealing with. This is especially true with common-intaken species, So it helps to have a quick and easy identifier for staff to go by when discussing patients. > >A few examples we've had this year have been "Crop Hawk" "Cassini, "Weird Goose" "Mama Possum, "Big Chonker Snake, "Teeny Turt, "Big Hoss BOXTU," "Balloon Robin," among many others. > >Why is this guy the Homecoming EASO? Well, he was found on Homecoming night, of course! > >This little Screech Owl was found grounded in the middle of the road by a group of high school students who were celebrating their Homecoming dance! They were still dressed up in their dance attire when they spotted the owl and pulled over. One of the students hopped out while still in her glittering homecoming dress and heels, contained the owl, and brought him home for safekeeping until they could bring it to us the next morning! > >Luckily for this little raptor, he sustained only some eye abrasions and a little head trauma, likely from being struck by a vehicle right before being found. He's recovering well, and is now conditioning for release! > >We're proud of the students who stopped to help this beautiful bird, and we're hoping that the Homecoming EASO's story continues to go well!
From [Blackland Prairie Raptor Center](https://www.facebook.com/100064495971069/posts/pfbid02SLRdE3d3KDhtAEZdpwqJkX3QET4h81D9VmKT76pYzrn8hkgqwBesouQkru1DEQwJl/?app=fbl) >In this week's Fix'em Friday, we focus on the impact of barbed wire on raptors. Birds of prey face significant risks when colliding with barbed wire fences while hunting or flying. These birds can become entangled in the wire, resulting in severe injuries or even death. The more they struggle to free themselves, the more their injuries can worsen. Over the past couple of months, we have received many birds that were caught in barbed wire, and unfortunately, many of the injuries were devastating. > >One notable case involved this great horned owl that became entangled in barbed wire, sustaining serious wounds to its right wing. Fortunately, there was no major damage to its muscles, tendons, or bones. After undergoing wound debridement surgeries and weeks of intensive care, this owl is now flying again. > >Photo credit Jacob Drapkin
From [Heather Farrell](https://www.facebook.com/groups/785878088815941/permalink/1767810637289343/) >Such a gorgeous girl. > >I snuck up from behind this time and ducked behind the fence but she hears all. She did let me take a few shots before heading out after her dinner.
Photo by [Joel Garo](https://www.facebook.com/100000552063551/posts/pfbid0srYKQ4EYb3E9qtRkPZXXKepcFRhaXBZt6LcoBZuuGURCjMq2DxYg8j48Gopg3x2Ul/) Great Gray Owl with Vole Look at those fuzzy legs! 🥰
From [Howard Wu](https://www.facebook.com/groups/wwbirders/permalink/3688547124789632/) >I couldn't believe my luck -- the first owl l've photographed in the Pacific Northwest and it's a new one for me: Northern Pygmy-owl! > >It landed in a tree right in front of me. would not have found it had I not seen it landing - they are very small, as their name suggests, and pretty well camouflaged in the moss-draped trees. > >It may have taken me years trying to find one, but this one just popped up out of nowhere, totally unexpected! > >Snohomish County, WA
From [Raven Ridge Wildlife Center](https://www.facebook.com/100064600545214/posts/pfbid0G9bru1byTuT8NSETqHmN8cQBi4gSPD1TydBpBDrgzsS7wT6XHdYbfezZiwCdJM8gl/?app=fbl) >We received an urgent call about a magnificent brown owl stranded in the middle of a field during harvest. Despite the farmer's best efforts, they couldn't stop the big tractor, but they managed to carefully place the distressed owl in a blueberry box. Our dedicated volunteer easily located the box in the vast field and swiftly brought the owl to our center, where we discovered a severe broken wing. Thanks to the incredible support from Companion Animal Hospital, Dr. Parsons promptly conducted X-rays, revealing the severity of the injury. Although the road ahead is tough, we are determined to give this beautiful owl a fighting chance through an upcoming surgery with the skilled hands of Dr. Libby and Dr. Parsons on Tuesday. Your hope and prayers mean the world to us as we strive to save this precious endangered owl. > >The short-eared owl population in Pennsylvania is on a rapid decline. Estimating their numbers is challenging, but it's believed that their population is dwindling by more than 10% each year. These captivating creatures are endangered in Pennsylvania due to the alarming loss of their natural habitat. Designated as endangered in 1985, the short-eared owl remains on the state's endangered species list due to its limited distribution and dwindling breeding population. > >In Pennsylvania, the encroachment of development and modern agricultural practices has drastically diminished the open spaces vital for the survival of short-eared owls. These elusive owls are often spotted during winter in farnmlands and wetlands, captivating observers with their graceful hunting at dawn, dusk, and midday in open fields and strip mines.
From [Bryce Gaudian](https://www.facebook.com/groups/785878088815941/permalink/1768135753923498/?app=fbl) >I discovered there are A LOT of Great Horned Owls in the Salton Sea area of the Mohave Desert of southern California! I was able to spot and photograph 10 different Great Horned Owls in one day. > >Interesting account on the top one in an abandoned barn in rural Westmorland, CA. So my friend was driving and was on the lookout for Burrowing Owls which were literally EVERYWHERE. We were driving by an abandoned barn about 100 feet off the road and said out loud, "Wouldn't it be something if there was an owl in there!" > >As we are driving by it must be my brain being in owl facial recognition mode cuz through a broken out window, from the road, while we are driving by, think I see an owl up on one of the rafters. > >We pull over and get out and cross a deep drainage ditch and approach the barn and low and behold, there are two Great Horned Owls inside.
From [Caitlin Skaggs](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1212613602691508/permalink/1540652159887649/?app=fbl) > Hope you enjoy this Sweet face as much as I did! >Eastern Screech Owl >Kentucky - 10/24
From [Tommy Eliasson](https://www.facebook.com/groups/birdsofpreyphotography/permalink/1834349610424727/) Great Grey stuck in heavy rain.
From [Will Huff ](https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildlifeworldphotographers/permalink/2427051017490532/) >A burrowing owl in Florida looking directly at my camera. I had to crawl on my belly to get the purple/pink flowers behind the owl to give a cool background.
From [Cascades Raptor Center](https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=940968394740513&id=100064820827596) >Happy release to these two sister barn owls! They both jumped from their nest high up in a silo, one slightly after the other. With time in our hospital, and graduation from live prey training; they are both well flighted and ready for release! Both were reunited back home, and flew straight into their barn. > >Our hospital released an additional 4 barn owls this past week, all flying beautifully!
From [Owl Moon Raptor Center](https://www.facebook.com/100064529656345/posts/pfbid02zb5jEtzvUpEedF7tssDLvcQPYHToYqNPrP4Ac7e7j9rX6qxzrbe8hfy7LFr1e3Ljl/?app=fbl) >A particularly rewarding part of volunteering at Owl Moon is sharing stories of our experiences with family and friends. Recently, a volunteer's family member was brought into the action directly! On March 12, Julia's dad was on his way to work when he noticed an adult female barred owl on the side of the road. She was likely struck by a car and suffering from resultant head and eye trauma. Recognizing that the barred owl needed help, Julia's father acted quickly by containing the bird gently and bringing her to safety at the Center. The barred owl was easy to capture-a sure sign of serious injuries. > >Thanks to the six months of dedicated care she received at Owl Moon, this brave owl nicknamed Willow made a remarkable recovery. A crucial part of Willow's recovery included a veterinary ophthalmologist checking out her eyes to clear her for release. And just a few Fridays ago, we did indeed return her to the wild! Inspiring our families and friends to take action for injured birds of prey is a great way to affect change in our communities. Each story we share, especially impactful through word of mouth, helps spread awareness and encourages others to get involved.
From [Middle TN Raptor Center](https://www.facebook.com/100067886425868/posts/pfbid0rLRGnweoRdqYm985tHLv6GsgLL4RVrZtXjFNW4Abg48Pa6JxZoq6axqpX178LRAXl/?app=fbl) >You may remember this beauty who had her wing cut by a chainsaw. Well, she got her outdoor space today! We are naming her Notch (type of chainsaw cut) and she is now on the hard road to build flight strength for her eventual Freedom Day. [Original post](https://lemmy.world/post/20382176)
From [Gabriella Wong](https://www.flickr.com/photos/201474418@N04/54024720881/)
From [Cynthia Rand](https://www.facebook.com/groups/413227880972276/permalink/831126335849093/) >Nature provided just the right frame to complement this Screech Owl's beautiful eyes!
From [Middle TN Raptor Center](https://www.facebook.com/100067886425868/posts/pfbid0263TuG1j5ZRCVtqGTg4nQpS8EqtUpXDAYbmZib3c9uXkA2kzMULjGHFefVynRMjwUl/?app=fbl) Al the Screech Owl has recovered and is ready for release!
From [Bryce Gaudian](https://www.facebook.com/groups/785878088815941/permalink/1770473587023048/) >Burrowing Owl north of Calipatria, California in the Salton Sea area of the Mojave Desert. April 2024. - in Calipatria, CA
From [RV Fine Photography](https://www.facebook.com/100044219899823/posts/pfbid0rKYNpCrhSbBDeNG9W94DGrVr13JGkg421QAcayzQfDJCNfVLZPrRMLfKRnr7gtZtl/?app=fbl)
From [Ojai Raptor Center](https://www.facebook.com/100080423071358/posts/pfbid029P6dtTdQ7eA6oQiHjDfUUC97E8f2SV17UihtuWUybDE5tUkcYF4ZYgatcg36daqrl/) >Yesterday [10 OCT], the California Fish and Game Commission made a significant move in the fight to protect the Western Burrowing Owl, granting it "candidate" status under the California Endangered Species Act. This means the species will be temporarily protected while a full review is conducted over the next 12 to 18 months. Burrowing owls are facing steep declines with only 225 breeding pairs left in parts of central and southwestern California. > >Though Sacramento was too far for our team to attend, we felt strongly about having a presence at this important meeting, especially in memory of our recently passed Burrowing Owl ambassador, Topper. These unique owls, who roost and nest underground, face countless threats, and we believe they deserve full protection to safeguard their future. [Click the link ~~below~~ [here]](https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/california-burrowing-owls-one-step-closer-to-state-protections-2024-10-10/) to read more about what this decision means for the Western Burrowing Owl. The link is short but informative and has a cute picture, so I encourage you to read it.
This story is a bit old, but popped up in today's news. From [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/11/bill-bailey-bought-owl-restaurant-china-released-forest-zoo/) >*Comedian took advice from expert at London Zoo before releasing female Eurasian eagle-owl into local forest* > >Bill Bailey has revealed how he bought a caged owl from a restaurant in China and set it free in a forest. > >The comedian and Strictly winner, 59, has released a memoir titled My Animals and Other Animals, a chronology of his life hinged around all the animals he has met along the way. > >Bailey told BBC Breakfast: “We were travelling through China in Guangdong province and we went to a restaurant, and I was with the family, and there was an owl in the restaurant. > >“It was never really explicitly mentioned whether it was going to be eaten or whether it was for, you know, demo purposes. > >“It was in a cage alongside a lot of other animals, and we felt sorry for it. So we said, we have to get this owl out of here. We offered to buy it off them, and then they were quite happy to sell it to us. > >“We bought the owl, and they taped it up and put it in a box, and we carried it off in a taxi to release it somewhere.” > >After phoning an owl expert at London Zoo from China, Bailey said they had found a forest, adding: “We let it go and it flew off. It was a wonderful moment.” > >In the book, Bailey says the owl was a female Eurasian eagle-owl, and he paid 400 yuan for it, which is just over £40 today. > >According to the Peregrine Fund, which works to conserve birds of prey worldwide, the Eurasian eagle-owl is “among the world’s largest owls”, its “pumpkin orange eyes and feathery ear tufts make them one of the most striking owls in the world”.
From [Ojai Raptor Center](https://www.facebook.com/100080423071358/posts/pfbid0Ei44SZPnE9cXhNQC6cZThMahnSSCQAJLbM5BvnR48EVhZEyXVqajmmxEB43gwtgwl/?app=fbl) >It's hard to believe, but the unfortunate predicament that Great Horned Owl patient 24-680 found itself in is not as rare as one might think. This owl was rescued after becoming lodged in the grill of a vehicle. Remarkably, we receive about one of these cases a year, and most of the raptors we've treated have survived this traumatic ordeal. Despite the severity of the accident, 24-680 is expected to make a full recovery, even after suffering a broken fibula (visible in the radiograph in the final slide).
Some could argue there isn't much story here, but after going back and forth on sharing this, I thought it was interesting to look how laws work both in favor of the owls and against them, and the locals' concern about them and desire to see them taken care of. Let me know your thoughts! I'll include some bonus pics in exchange for reading this. From the [Midland Reporter-Telegram](https://www.mrt.com/news/article/midland-burrowing-owls-19824655.php) >Residents concerned about fate of Texas burrowing owls amid new construction >By Kessly Salinas > >Texas burrowing owls have found a home in the burrows of a prairie dog town in an empty lot near Front Street and North Adams Street but will soon need to find a new one. > >According to Donnabelle and Mike Hutt, there is about 8 to 10 burrowing owls that have made the abandoned prairie dog town their home. > >After continuously seeing a food truck park in the same lot that the owls are living in, the couple worked to raise awareness about the birds, reaching out to officials to ensure the safety of the owls. > >Now, the couple’s concern is reaching a new level. Construction for a new Dollar Tree will begin soon in the owls’ lot, and the duo is worried about the fate of these feathery neighbors. > >Michael Nickell, museum scientist at the Sibley Nature Center, said that Texas burrowing owls are unique in that they reside underground. They might not always dig their own burrow, so they like to reside in abandoned prairie dog colonies. > >Corrie Borgman, migratory bird biologist and nongame/landbird specialist at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that because burrowing owls like living in abandoned quarters of prairie dog colonies, the two animals are often associated together. > >Nickell added that the burrowing owl is a migratory bird, so they are considered a protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. > >“A protected species doesn’t necessarily mean they’re endangered, threatened or vulnerable,” Nickell told the Reporter-Telegram. “But because the burrowing owl is a migratory species, it does fall under the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.” > >The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was established to ensure the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory bird species, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The treaty protects over 1,000 species in North America. > >“The MBTA protects birds themselves, as well as their eggs, their nests and any body parts such as feathers and things like that,” Borgman said. “It’s prohibited to kill a burrowing owl directly or remove it’s nest.” > >If a burrowing owl built a nest and laid eggs in it, the nest would have to remain undisturbed until the birds have fledged. > >Borgman said that although the Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects birds, eggs and their nests, it doesn’t protect habitats. > >“If the food truck is parking directly on top of the burrow, it could be problematic,” Borgman said. “I think that it could easily be a conversation explaining to the owners that they don’t have to park directly on top because they are protected.” > >She added that it’s a situation that could be resolved. > >“Texas Parks and Wildlife has management guidelines that says to conduct activities at a minimum of 100 feet from the nesting sites,” Borgman said. > >She said that although parking directly on top would lead to people disturbing the ground each time someone walks up to the food truck, if there was a minimum buffer between the truck and the nest, they could coexist in the same lot. > >With a safe distance, the owls wouldn’t be hurt by the foot traffic that the food truck creates. > >Game Warden Philip Bird added that a food truck creates very low disturbances to the burrowing owls. > >The Migratory Bird Treaty Act doesn’t protect habitats, it only protects the birds, their nests and their eggs. > >Donnabelle and Mike Hutt suspected that the owls were protecting a nest and newly lain eggs, but if there aren't any eggs and nests right now, there isn’t much that can be done for the owls. > >“It’s not nesting season for any bird in Texas at the moment,” Bird said. “Burrowing owls are federally protected, so there may be some type of permit that the construction company needs to get but that’s not something that the state regulates.” > >Since it is not nesting season, the burrowing owls would just have to find a new habitat. Because natural habitat loss happens due to development, Texas Parks and Wildlife has constructed a guide about how to build artificial den sites in urban areas. > >Bird said that burrowing owls’ nest anywhere that there’s prairie dog town and that there is plenty all over west Texas. The burrowing owls will be able to adapt and find a new home. > >“I assume that when construction begins in earnest, the owls would fly off and find a better habitat for themselves,” Bird said. “It’s not nesting season, so there’s not really a state violation occurring.”
From [Blackland Prairie Raptor Center](https://www.facebook.com/100064495971069/posts/pfbid02HnPaUt8ynR1iPkfCiinJY5rYWU68v2245wqVhTborYw6wQ7kbD2vy56zKv6JdAgjl/?app=fbl) > It's not always obvious why a bird isn't feeling well, so we run blood work on the majority of birds that come in, to help us figure out what's wrong. This barred owl was lethargic with no obvious reason why but it had a surprise in its blood. It had parasites in its red blood cells. The pointer in the picture below is pointing to a red blood cell filled with a parasite. With supportive care this barred owl is clearing the parasites from its blood and is active again! 
Photo by [Paul Bannik](https://www.facebook.com/100044893843671/posts/pfbid0fohuhexudcCzyeRmv9ZtcwbMY6NBRfRXD2RAbHv8MvSAw2FEAZ8MgKiCrs8kVJbil/?app=fbl) >Northern Hawk Owls (Surnia ulula) >A male Northern Hawk Owl attempts to feed a disinterested fledgling. Northern Hawks are among several species that specialize in small mammals and can have very large broods of several youngsters when voles populations are high. Such owls frequently cache excess prey when youngsters have had their fill and attempt to deliver the same meals later.
From the [Center for Wildlife](https://www.facebook.com/100064569648869/posts/pfbid0Kk5edFv2r118rrdLQgHTL3hf8e3yMumJV2tNun98RRq16b4RT86XBJFeyUmEiEh9l/?app=fbl) >Lucy, our non-releasable Eastern Screech Owl ambassador, along with our team of educators had a blast educating students from Barrington Middle School at the summit of @mtagamenticus today! > >A couple hundred students spent the day exploring Mount Agamenticus and learning a variety of topics including habitat, conservation, wildlife and more.
Photo by [Fayaz Hamza](https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildlifeworldphotographers/permalink/2403580043170963/) Munnar, India
From [Eric D. Olick](https://www.facebook.com/groups/413227880972276/permalink/833505518944508/?app=fbl) >I'm hoping to see more eastern screech owls around in the spring of 2025- they are so expressive and fun to watch and photograph!
From [Mar Acevedo](https://www.facebook.com/groups/HuntleyMeadowsPark/permalink/8523230064366713/) >After work, I visit for about two hours. On this day, I find the little one almost right away. After a few minutes of staring at each other (see my previous post), they give me a big stretch. This behavior is one of my favorite things that owls do. I think I picked the frame of maximum wing stretch. I love how the setting sun is giving backlight to that left wing. Photos from the previous post mentioned above and a photo of momma are down below.
From [Randy Finley](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1657672334452627/permalink/3933430063543498/) Barn Owls - Sacramento Valley, CA