Barn Owl Rescue

Whilst out ringing Barn Owls yesterday, I received a message from a friend Howard Fearn, he told me a member of the public reported a young Barn Owl had fallen from its nest box and was hiding in the hedge!

As we know, if left it wouldn’t get fed and given the rain showers predicted it would have been soaked as it’s down and feathers absorb the moisture which would have chilled it and caused certain death!!

I love Barn Owls (they have been and are a major part of my life!) so I can’t let this happen!!

So the rescue began with a long walk with my ladders and ringing kit!

On arrival at the scene at first I couldn’t see the rogue owl! So I climbed up to the box, to find a lovely brood of three young owls, so I ringed and processed them (weighed, measured, aged and sexed) whilst putting them back in the box I was able to see the owl dozing in the middle of the hedge ( a partial blackthorn hedge). So I put my ladder on the hedge and tentatively scaled the hedge! First attempt failed as the owl moved deeper into the hedge.

Repositioning of the ladder, and success I was able to reach the owl. So he (as it happened) was checked for injuries ringed and reunited with his brood! Hopefully to fledge properly. Leaves you a bit battered but with a warm feeling that one more owl will have a chance!