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While Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control mainly deals with managing conflicts with pest birds and animal wildlife, we are occasionally called upon a rescue mission. Such was the case on October 31st, 2024. Here's what we know so far: 
The Patient: Short Eared Owl
On October 31st, 2024 an adult male short eared owl was spotted on the ground near 4th line in Halton Hills, Ontario and transported to Hawkeye in Acton. Hawkeye's Dan Frankian checked over the bird and found that the poor little guy was severely dehydrated and emaciated, suggesting that he had been on the ground for some time (likely 2-3 days). He currently weighs a mere 300 grams but we'll be working on that.
A Visit to the Veterinary Clinic
Since there were no discernable fractures, Dan packed up his little charge and drove off to meet Dr. Michael Taylor for x-rays and an expert assessment. X-rays confirmed that there are no fractures, but that the little fella suffered extensive nerve damage from overstretching of the left wing (brachial area). At this time, we have no idea what caused the trauma. The Doc also discovered some inflammation of the liver which could be entirely unrelated.
Dr. Taylor has our undying gratitude for sharing his time and expertise with us for nearly 30 years now. His knowledge of avian physiology and his aptitude for handling fragile birds of prey is unparalleled.
The Road to Recovery
Well, our little friend will enjoy some food, water, vitamins and LOTS of rest for the next 2 weeks. We'll immobilize his wing with a Figure 8 bandage to keep him still and allow for some healing to take place. We're also still waiting for his blood work to come back.
Short Eared Owl Rehabilitation
As much as we hope that this super cute little guest will make a full recovery and will be able to return to the wild, we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility that his injuries are just too severe for him to ever soar again. We will keep a close eye on him and re-evaluate in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed.
About Short Eared Owls
Believe it or not, with all our experience and 30 years of keeping and raising birds of prey, we had never before actually seen a Short Eared Owl before today. And, this isn't how we like to meet new birds at all. But, boy, is he cute! Dan Frankian of Hawkeye is positively smitten with this little guy. He was able to hand (or finger) feed him after the owl wanted absolutely nothing to do with a dropper.
Short Eared Owl Identification
The short eared owl is a medium sized owl with very distinct big black-rimmed yellow eyes looking at you from a pale facial disk on a rounded head. Their ear tufts are so short that they may be easy to miss. Short eared owls have broad, long, and rounded wings, perfect for gliding silently over grasslands and a short tail.
Short Eared Owl Habitat
The short eared owl is one of the world's most widely distributed owls, and one of the easiest to spot in daylight. Actually, the best time to lay eyes on this medium sized owl is generally dusk or dawn. The ideal short eared owl territories include large, open areas with low vegetation, including prairies and coastal grasslands. Winter habitat may also include man made dwellings, such as dumps, gravel pits, and rock quarries. Short-eared Owls can travel incredibly long distances; they have been seen descending on ships hundreds of miles from any land mass.
Breeding and Nesting
Both male and female short-eared owls become sexually mature at about a year old. They are generally thought to be monogamous within one breeding season, finding new partners and nesting sites each year. During their courtship ritual, the male short eared owl performs aerial acrobatics (sky dances, if you will) accompanied by singing and wing-clapping to woo a lady of interest. This can happen at all hours of the day or night and it may involve 2 males competing over one female. Once a partner has been chosen, a nest is established by hollowing out ground in the shape of a bowl - usually in long grass on the ground. It is then lined with grasses and downy feathers and Mrs. Owl may lay anywhere from one to eleven eggs. The incubation period lasts from 21 to 37 days during which time Mr. Owl will feed the expectant mother and defend the nest. The eggs will hatch in the order they were laid, which can lead to a chick hatching every 2-3 days.
Short Eared Owl Diet
The short eared owl consumes mostly small mammals, including mice, voles, shrews, moles, lemmings, rabbits, pocket gophers, bats, rats, weasels, and muskrats. Also on the menu are smaller birds, such as terns, gulls, shorebirds, and a variety of songbirds.
Short Eared Owl Conservation
Short-eared Owl populations are difficult to estimate with any degree of certainty. Particularly in Canada, their numbers seem to have declined, but overall, populations appear to be fairly stable since 1966, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Still, the short-eared owl is listed as a Common Bird in Steep Decline; this is one step above Watch List status - designed for species that are still numerous or widely distributed but have experienced some troubling declines over time. Because Short Eared Owls require large uninterrupted tracts of open grasslands they appear to be quite sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation from agriculture, livestock grazing, recreation, and other human development. Habitat restoration programs, such as the Conservation and Wetland Reserve Programs, show promising results in restoring suitable habitat for the short eared owl on private land.
Hawkeye To the Rescue
We invite you to check back to see how our litte charge is doing. We will post updates about his progress here and hopefully be able to take you on a journey up to and including his release back to the wild. His care and all costs incurred will be covered by Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control. It is situations like this that allow us to give back to nature and all its creations - and we very much view it as a labour of love.
When we are not tending to injured birds of prey, you may like to contact us for any of your Bird Control or Animal Wildlife Removal needs. We're always ready to help!
