A not so little, little owl

This soggy little owl was found in a ditch a few weeks ago. Usually in these instances we assume injury of sorts that is preventing the owl from flying - occasionally becoming wet causes them to become grounded too - so you can imagine our surprise that when we examined her, we found her to simply be extremely obese!

Upon weighing her, she was a rather chunky 245g (which is roughly a third heaver than a large healthy female little owl) and she was unable to fly effectively due to the fatty deposits around her body.

This is extremely unusual for wild birds to get into this condition naturally, so we needed to investigate some obvious scenarios - the first being that she was possibly an escaped aviary bird. Sadly there was no indication of rings or chip identification, and asking around in the local area didn’t give us any leads.

We therefore decided to observe the bird over a period of weeks for signs of a life in captivity. Familiarity with common foods used in aviaries such as bright yellow chicks (which won’t often be found naturally in the English countryside) are a telltale sign. Luckily for her, there were no giveaway signs as she was readily taking more wild food types such as dark mice, so we are confident this may just be an unusual case of natural obesity! After further investigation, we also found that the area where she was rescued was crawling with field mice and voles due to the warm and wet winter we experienced in December. 

She has since spent a few weeks with us under observation and been placed on a strict diet. We can now happily say she has trimmed down by 20-30g to a more natural weight for release.

Update: Check out her release here

Update: Later nicknamed ‘Plump’, news of this little internet sensation spanned the globe from America to Ghana, India to Croatia, Poland to Australia, Romania to Taiwan, and New Zealand to Kenya! She made headlines in major national and global news sources, as well as hundreds of local news outlets. What a little star! 

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A very sticky situation - Part 3

You may remember this poor barn owl who found himself caught up in a badly placed glue trap last September. His leg and wing were stuck fast to each other, and his feathers were badly damaged by the substance.

After carefully removing the glue over the period of a week, he was then introduced to a secluded aviary so he could begin the recovery process. Unfortunately, the feather damage was significant enough to hinder his flight and cause him to become quite waterlogged. With typical winter weather looming, he would sadly not have survived long in this condition, so it continues to be essential that these feathers recover before he is released.

He’s now been with us for a few months under our care and observation whilst he moults a fresh set of feathers, and his condition is steadily improving. However, as you can see the damage to the primary feathers is still extensive enough to cause issues with flight, so he has been moved to a larger and quieter rehab aviary to encourage flight and exercise. Unfortunately due to the extensive damage, this little one will be with us for a while longer. Once he has his fresh set of feathers he will be a perfect candidate for a soft release back into the wild to ensure he develops the necessary skills to survive.

Click here to read chapter 4!

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Red Squirrel Appreciation Day

The UK is home to two species of squirrel; red squirrels and grey squirrels. 

Red squirrels are our native species, and are estimated to have resided here for around 10,000 years.

It is thought that there is somewhere in the region of 140,000 red squirrels in the UK, and as low as 15,000 in England - an alarming number.

Grey squirrels were originally introduced to the UK from North America by the Victorians in the 1800s, and in contrast, the population stands at over 2.5 million.

Unfortunately, grey squirrels are not good news for our native reds. They carry a disease called Parapoxvirus, which does not appear to affect their health but often kills red squirrels. A greater population of grey squirrels, also means that they are consuming a vast proportion of green acorns, leaving red squirrels struggling to find a food source. A loss of woodland and an increase in road traffic are also threatening factors.

Sadly the red squirrel population is now restricted to certain areas of the UK, such as Anglesey, parts of northern England and Scotland, and it is thought that without intervention, the red squirrel could become extinct in England in just ten years time.

Why not come and visit Woodland Walk at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, and pay a visit to our three resident red squirrels?

Here’s just a few of the actions being taken by authorities to help save our red squirrels:

The Woodland Trust are working to develop longterm conservation strategies, such as improving habitat for red squirrels and planting trees to connect areas of woodland.

Read more: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2018/11/red-squirrel-facts/

The RSPB are committed to providing a home for red squirrels on their own reserves, ensuring forest/habitat management whilst also monitoring populations. 

Read more: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/our-positions-and-casework/our-positions/species/red-squirrel-conservation/

The Red Squirrel Survival Trust is a national charity established to ensure the conservation and protection of populations in the UK, through protecting their environment, establishing new colonies, funding research and raising awareness.

Read more: https://www.rsst.org.uk

Wildlife Trusts are undertaking habitat management and working alongside academics, practitioners and volunteers on conservation programmes.

Read more: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-and-wild-places/saving-species/red-squirrels

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Are you sitting comfortably?

December 21st saw Suffolk Owl Sanctuary join forces with Suffolk Libraries to host a wonderful morning of festive, family fun!

The event took place in Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s newly opened extension, which is home to our Golden Eagles, Ravens, Red Kites and more. The Nature Information Centre in the new complex offers an indoor facility for your little ones let off steam while you (attempt to!) put your feet up. There are comfy sofas and opportunities to read one of our story books kindly donated by Suffolk Libraries; a run-around area; Lego to help your little ones get creative; the chance to do some arts and crafts in the Activity Room, or you can take a walk outside to see the newest block of aviaries and even more stunning birds!

Darwin the Chaco Owl with falconer Rob

Birkett the Great Horned Owl with falconer Jess

The celebrations kicked off with a chance to meet Darwin the Chaco Owl and falconer Rob, closely followed by Birkett the Great Horned Owl and falconer Jess. Both Rob and Jess offered up some interesting facts for our attentive visitors, before guests enjoyed a special photo opportunity with crowd pleaser, Darwin.

Ursula from Stowmarket Library took to the floor next, and captivated her audience with a wildlife themed Wordplay storytime. 

Ursula from Stowmarket Library presents a festive story time

For more information on Suffolk Libraries Wordplay activities, visit https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/events-activities/children/pre-school-children/

Suffolk Libraries Wordplay mascot Oona the owl followed suit, and delighted the audience with high-fives and fist bumps all round.

Finally, we rounded off a lovely morning as Jenny served up some delicious mince pies and hot chocolate, before saying farewell to our festive visitors as they set off for a wander around Stonham Shopping Village and the remainder of Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. 

What a fabulous morning it was!

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A spell of bad weather

The raptor hospital here at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary has been relatively quiet of late (which can hopefully only be a good thing!), but unfortunately this week we have had an influx of poorly, injured owls.

During periods of bad weather it is often common to see an increase in hospital admissions. Cold, wet weather is not ideal for native birds of prey as it provides less than ideal hunting conditions, meaning prey can be scarce or often impossible to find. This pushes many species (such as tawny owls and barn owls) to adopt unusual hunting tactics, meaning they are pressured to hunt more often than would be usually necessary for survival.

We are seeing an increase of RTA cases which could indicate the birds are using roadside verges as hunting locations more frequently, as these locations can support an abundant source of prey. This dramatically increases the risk of injuries such as concussion and broken bones.

Here we have a tawny owl recently admitted to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary raptor hospital, who has suffered an eye injury after being hit by a vehicle. The eye is filled with blood as a result of impact and this bird is currently being treated with anti inflammatories and eye drops to take the swelling down. Once the swelling has reduced we can assess any visual impairment.

Here we have another tawny owl with a similar issue; an eye impact injury. It is common to see eye injuries in owls after a RTA - the eyes take up a large portion of the skull cavity and generally suffer with any head impact the owl receives.

Finally, here we have a young barn owl. RTA are very common amongst barn owls as they often hunt during busy times of the day (such as evenings and mornings during rush hour). Many of our country roads (even A roads) cut through their preferred hunting habitat, and if focussed on hunting, vehicles are often ignored by the bird. Being so light in body, these owls can be easily blown across busy roads or into oncoming traffic - luckily for this one he only suffered a bump on the head with some residual bruising around the eye area. 

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Read owl about it!

Would you just look at this mountain of old newspapers!

They have all been very kindly donated to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary by our friends at Suffolk Libraries (Ipswich County Library, Stowmarket Library and Newmarket Library) to help make our day to day work just that little bit easier.

Newspapers are an essential tool used on a daily basis throughout the sanctuary. They line the night boxes in which the flying team are housed overnight and provided a quick and effective way of gathering and cleaning out 'the night's business' each morning before the boxes themselves are disinfected. 

Supplies have been running low of late, although this stash will certainly keep us going for a short while!

If you have any old newspapers at home you could spare, please consider dropping them off to our Gift Shop the next time you're down our way.

Thank you Suffolk Libraries!

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World Wildlife Conservation Day

December 4th is World Wildlife Conservation Day; a day which is aimed at raising awareness of the illegal wildlife trade of animals, birds and invertebrates and the need to protect our planet.

We would therefore like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about the Lugger Falcon and Project Lugger -  an invaluable cause with which we are very proud to be involved.

Lugger Falcon

The Lugger Falcon

Over the last 20-30 years, the Lugger Falcon has undergone a serious decline due to various reasons. These include persecution through ignorance; illegal trapping in very large numbers for use in falconry; and being used subsequently as bait birds to catch other larger, more powerful falcons, again for illicit trade. The serious decline of certain key food species, such as the Spiny Tailed Lizard, has also had a dramatic effect on breeding.

Current population numbers are vaguely estimated as being in the region of 10,000 and 20,000 pairs - a startling drop from the population figure for 50 years ago that was more than 100,000 pairs.

“Even if we take the highest current population figure quoted - in our view erroneously - that still represents a dramatic decline in population levels of some 80%.” Project Lugger

So why is nothing being done?

“One of the main issues with the Lugger Falcon is that the countries it inhabits are going through serious humanitarian issues because of conflict, food shortages or political differences. As a result, the plight of a species of falcon is not understandably, a high priority during government decision making processes.” Project Lugger

This falcon also shares its habitat with far more promotable species that are in decline - Snow Leopards, Tigers, Asiatic Lions and Himalayan Bears - all of which are easier in many ways to raise funds for in order to sustain the promotion of the need for their conservation, and take active, practical steps to effect that conservation.

There is no doubt that the Lugger Falcon will indirectly benefit from the various habitat conservation programmes aimed at other species, but sadly there are still no projects, other than Project Lugger, that support this endangered falcon.

What is Project Lugger?

Project Lugger was established in 2017 by a group of UK bird of prey enthusiasts to bring to fruition the concern of one of Britain’s most respected falconers, Bob Dalton, and his feeling that something should be urgently done to assist with halting the rapid decline of this species.

The aim of Project Lugger is to build a gene pool of Lugger Falcons and domestically produce youngsters which will be exchanged with other breeders, until a stable breeding programme is established. Eventually it is hoped that young Luggers will be donated to the Governments and Wildlife Authorities of both India and Pakistan for them to establish their own breeding programmes.

Bob Dalton, who heads up Project Lugger, visited Suffolk Owl Sanctuary earlier this year to raise awareness of their conservation aims. He joined us during one of the displays as a special guest and presenter to a falcon we were flying, and was able to outline the issues facing the native populations of luggers, and detail ways in which we can help. We were also overjoyed to receive a certificate of appreciation of our work with Project Lugger which our General manager, Maz, was pleased to receive on our behalf!

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary are proud to be involved with Project Lugger, and currently have two breeding pairs at the sanctuary.

Maisie the Lugger Falcon has been with us now since May, and is coming on leaps and bounds with her training. We started by introducing her to the lure and she is now building her confidence, fitness and skill on the wing - invaluable attributes that future generations from the breeding programme will need in their armoury to survive in thee wild.

Maisie the Lugger Falcon at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary

Maisie will soon become one of Project Lugger’s ambassador birds and will help to raise awareness of the decline of native Lugger populations in their home range.

“The Lugger Falcon needs our help and it needs it now.” Project Lugger

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Information provided in association with Project Lugger: http://projectlugger.com/home/4593840428

Photography Competition 2019

We are pleased to announce the results of the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary Photo Competition for 2019. 

Firstly, we would like to extend our CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS to everyone who entered the competition. It was evident a combination of effort, patience and thought had been made to capture the character of the subject matter in each of the entries.

Once again the standard was high and made judging a very difficult task. 

The judges were presented with over 220 images and each photo was presented ‘blind’, with no details of the originator or the equipment used showing; and as competitors were invited to supply up to 5 entries, the order of presentation was also randomised out of sequence. The judging was conducted by 3 members of our staff who, in their opinion, ranked the images 1st, 2nd and 3rd in both classes on the basis of impact, quality and detail. 

Here are our winners!

Senior category

1st Gav Stalley

Hakin the Red kite

2nd Amelia Ireland

Lincoln the Bald Eagle

3rd Mary Wilde 

Taiga the Great Grey Owl

Junior category 

1st Andrew Jolley 

Misty and Peyton the Barn Owls

2nd Dan Tymon 

Melvin the Harris Hawk

3rd Charlie Beaumont 

Tura the Siberian Eagle Owl

Many of the balance of entries submitted were awarded a Highly Recommended commendation because of the high standard and we will advise each entrant to the competition by email of the results. 

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Regarding the People’s Vote held online, there was a wonderful response from our followers - thanks to all that took part. 

Here are YOUR winners for the People’s Vote!

Senior category

1st Mark Leggett 

Cobweb the Barn Owl

2nd Gav Stalley 

Hakin the Red kite

3rd Mary Wilde 

Ozzie the Kookaburra

Junior category

1st Andrew Jolley 

Misty and Peyton the Barn Owls

2nd Charlie Beaumont 

Tura the Siberian Eagle Owl

3rd Dan Tymon 

Melvin the Harris Hawk

Frances Wilson is the lucky winner of the Prize Draw from all the social media followers who cast a vote, and will receive an Annual Season Pass.

Our two senior winners will each receive a Photography Course with British Wildlife Photography Awards 2019 winner Paul Sawer.

All other winners will receive fabulous prizes ranging from an Annual Season Pass, to a Family Day Pass or an Owl Adoption.

Congratulations to all!

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Darwin and Rob visit Newmarket Library

A couple of weeks ago, our very own Darwin the Chaco Owl accompanied falconer Rob to visit Newmarket Library, in support of the re-launch of Suffolk Libraries pre-school Wordplay activities.

These sessions offer opportunities for young children, their parents and their carers to get involved with regular Baby Bounce, Tot Rock or Storytime activities, and when we found out that the new mascot is an owl called Oona…we just couldn’t turn down the opportunity to support them on this exciting journey!

An extremely well-behaved Darwin provided a brilliant meet and greet learning opportunity for all our young friends at Newmarket Library, and was a credit to his handler Rob who was only too happy to demonstrate the importance of owls to our up-and-coming youngest fans.

Whilst the collaboration between Suffolk Owl Sanctuary and Suffolk Libraries is most definitely new and still developing, we are excited to announce that Suffolk Libraries are now the proud sponsors of Bea and Bumble the Ural Owls - a donation which will go towards helping support special projects aimed at the preservation and conservation of owls and other birds of prey in the wild.

You may also be aware that we have recently been campaigning for old newspapers to help provide a high level of care in our Raptor Hospital. Not only were Newmarket Library able to donate some old newspapers at the launch event, both Ipswich and Stowmarket Libraries have kindly agreed to supply us with used newspapers going forwards - something for which both SOS staff and our resident birds will be extremely grateful for. 

In addition to this, Suffolk Libraries have kindly donated a selection of children's’ books for use in our new Nature Centre. We aim to provide an opportunity for youngsters and their carers to take some time out to read, learn and communicate during their visit to SOS.

In return for such generosity and opportunity, Suffolk Owl Sanctuary are proud to offer free entry to all 5 year olds (and younger) who are lucky enough to hold a Suffolk Libraries children's card!

“Suffolk Owl Sanctuary are delighted to be involved with the new Wordplay project and look forward to welcoming young visitors to SOS where they will see some amazing and unusual owls (and other birds of prey) which we are sure will add extra depth and texture to their reading as they first explore the wonderful world of books.” Chris Astridge of Suffolk Owl Sanctuary

We are excited to watch this partnership grow over the coming months!

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Remember, remember us in November

Fireworks season is upon us, and we ask that you please consider our wildlife as a priority at this time of year.

Sudden loud noises can cause a great deal of distress to all wildlife. Birds and mammals may panic and flee into the road, risking collision with vehicles (and subsequently injury, or even death). Birds can potentially also crash into buildings, windows or trees in the immense hurry to escape.

Nesting birds and other animals could abandon their nest, leaving their young behind, unable to survive alone. The terrified parents could then become so disorientated in the panic, that they find themselves on unfamiliar ground and unable to navigate their way back to their young.

Litter is also an issue around this time of year. Burnt out fireworks and discarded packaging prove a danger to wildlife if not disposed of properly. Fireworks are essentially chemical cocktails, composing of gunpowder, metal slats and oxidisers. Some of these substances can linger in the environment, and even find their way into water supplies, affecting wildlife, their habitat and also humans! That’s not to mention the possibility of animals ingesting or getting caught up and injured in the rubbish.

Many consider Chinese lanterns to be a safer alternative - but they are not. There is a great risk of fire should they land in hay, straw, on a farm building or a thatched roof, for example. This fire can not only kill animals and humans, but it will destroy habitat. Unknowing animals may ingest this debris, or become trapped and tangled, causing injury and even death. Biodegradable lanterns can take decades to degrade, and these floating lights can even be a false alarm to our coastguards for marine distress signals. And finally, the frames can contaminate crops, which are fed to livestock. 

What can you do to help?

• Discourage birds from the area by removing feeders and baths a few hours before the fireworks are lit.

• Wait till late! Dusk is a prime feeding time for many animals, but after it gets much darker there will be far fewer animals nearby to be affected by the fireworks.

• Ensure that no ash, debris or other firework residue lands in birdseed or drinking water.

• Do not use fireworks near trees, nesting areas or other sheltered areas where wildlife may be living. The noise could scare these animals out into the open, which is not safe for them.

• Keep fireworks away from areas which may catch fire from stray sparks, fuses or debris.

• Clean up all firework residue and waste quickly, and carefully. Firework debris can still contain toxic chemicals and other poisons that can harm animals that may ingest them.

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What to do if you find an injured animal…

• For emergency advice between 8.00am and 8.00pm call Suffolk Owl Sanctuary on 03456 807 897 (Opt 5)

• Call the RSPCA's emergency line on 0300 1234 999

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Lucky little fledglings

We have recently taken several calls from concerned members of the public who have seen owls on the ground, looking confused or injured.

Roger and Kevin, the volunteers who curate our wild owl nest box scheme, have suggested that barn owls especially have fledged later than usual this year. Consequently, we think that perhaps a spate of windy autumnal weather has then resulted in these young birds being blown to the ground a bit earlier than typically predicted. In most cases, if these birds are fully feathered and able to fly, we stress that they are left alone.

However, there are circumstances where intervention is necessary.

This particular barn owl was found in a similar situation, but with the concern that it had also been clipped by a passing car. Upon close inspection, this extremely lucky owl only had a broken wing feather! It is otherwise in great condition and we are monitoring it closely for any other signs of injury.

Continuing the run of good luck, this tawny owl also came to us on the same day, having suffered an RTA. Having been hit on the right wing, luckily, there were no long lasting injuries, and it is currently being monitored whilst returning to full health.

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Owls at risk of SGAR poisoning

Many people who use rodent poisons such as anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) for pest control, either are not aware of, or do not consider the secondary effect it can have on other wildlife.

Newer ARs (SGARs) are so powerful, one single feed can be lethal. However, there is a time delay between the rodent consuming the bait, and it actually taking effect. It is during this time that predators such as owls and birds of prey can easily consume multiple poisoned rodents, in turn becoming poisoned themselves.

SGARs don't break down quickly - it can stay in tissues and organs for years, making it easier for these bigger animals to also ingest lethal doses. Birds that regularly eat mice and rats are at particularly high risk of SGAR poisoning. Even at less than lethal doses, toxins will still make birds clumsy and slower to respond to threats, less efficient at hunting and more likely to be hit by a car.

Globally, SGARs have been responsible for declines in many carnivorous mammals and birds - not just owls.

What can you do to help?

• Check the label for active constituents in the rodent bait.

  • Less harmful first generation compounds include: Warfarin / Coumatetralyl.

  • More harmful second generation compounds include: Brodifacoum / Bromadiolone / Difenacoum / Difethialone / Flocoumafen - leave these on the shelf!

• Encourage native predators. A couple of ways to do this is to install an owl nest box, or to plant native trees.

• Make your garden less attractive and friendly for rodents. A few ways you can do this is by clearing away waste, pick up fallen fruit, do not leave pet food out and seal any cavities or potential entrances to your property.

• Consider more friendly pest control, such as snap traps.

• Check what products and methods your local pest controllers use, if you employ one.

• Spread the word about bird-friendly rodent control!

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Tawny owl suffers a collision

This tawny owl came into the sanctuary with a damaged eye, which is often the sign of a collision with a car. 

An owl’s eyes are so large, that bruising can often be seen by looking into the owl’s ear - this is quite  a good way to check for injury.

This little one should recover with a bit of time and TLC, although unfortunately sometimes if the damage is extensive, it can cause a loss of the eye. We hope this one will make a full recovery!

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Lucky little buzzard

This buzzard recently found himself in an unfortunate situation, after becoming firmly wedged in the radiator of a van.

Usually in such circumstances we expect to see quite serious injuries, ranging from concussion (brain swelling) to broken limbs and internal injuries, so it was a surprise when we took charge of him that all he had was one broken feather!

Over the period of a week he was put into an aviary to assess movement, and it was evident he was quite sore from the ordeal - but nothing a bit of rest couldn’t fix. After two weeks we deemed him strong enough for release and called the rescuer to take him back to where he was found.

Good luck, lucky buzzard!

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A very sticky situation - Part 2

You may remember this barn owl who was rescued from the deathly grip of a glue trap a couple of weeks ago…here’s a quick update on how he is doing!

After slowly and carefully removing the glue from his feathers over the period of a week, he was then introduced to a secluded aviary so he could begin the recovery process.

Although his feathers are still showing signs of damage, he is now able to move about well, and has plenty of cover to retreat away from the wet weather. Unfortunately, the feather damage is significant enough to hinder his flight and cause him to become quite waterlogged. With impending bad weather, he would sadly not survive long in this condition, so it is essential these feathers continue to recover before he is released. Potentially he will have to be with us until he moults out the damaged feathers, but being a young bird, this may not now be until after winter. 

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Click here to read chapter 3!

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A very sticky situation

We recently took charge of a young barn owl that had been found caught in a glue trap. Glue traps a huge risk to wildlife, especially bird of prey who will go down to the rodents that are caught in the traps. If the traps are not checked regularly raptors unfortunate to fall foul of them in this way can suffer a slow, unnecessary death.

Luckily this barn owl was found in time and brought in to us. Her left leg and wing where stuck solid to each other and the wing feathers were badly damaged by the substance.

Initially we had to get the wing unstuck from the leg so the areas were dribbled with olive oil, which can release the glue, then gently washed in a solution of washing liquid. Over the period of a week we were gradually able to remove the vast majority of the glue, enough that she could move freely. However the process sadly removed the oils from her feathers so they became quite weak and lost their waterproofing.

This graphic image gives you a close-up impression of the effect landing in a glue trap can cause to delicate plumage.

This barn owl had a very lucky escape but even so, as a consequence of the weakened state of her plumage, it’s possible she faces a long rehabilitation with us until her feathers are moulted and repaired enough for release. The process of moulting a full set of feathers takes up to 3 months, during which feathers are shed and re-grown over the entire body in a regular pattern. In order to minimise the impact of the molt on the owl's flight and hunting skills, this molting pattern only allows a few of the primary or secondary flight feathers to be shed at time.

With glue traps there are strict recommendations for their use (for example, checking them regularly) and using them undercover where birds are less likely to stray. Unfortunately barn owls will be using many areas like barns for housing, so are often found around where these traps are commonly used. Also traps like this It’s also recommended that glue straps to be used as a last resort.

In terms of advice, should you be unfortunate to encounter a similar instance we endorse the recommendations of the RSPCA:

• Never try to free an animal from a trap as there is a risk of injury to both the person and the animal

• Instead, stay back to avoid stressing the animal

• Call the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary on 03456 807 897 or RSPCA's emergency line on 0300 1234 999

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Click here to read chapter 2!

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Winging our way across the pond

Native Americans have a great spiritual connection to owls and other birds of prey such as the eagle, the raven and the red tail hawk.

Kevin Autry contacted us a few months back, all the way from North Carolina, U.S.A., and asked if we could spare any feathers for his religious ceremonies. We were intrigued and happy to help with this hands-across-the-water request, and were able to send a small selection of feathers from non-native species (that is, bird species from our display team not native to the UK), including the bateleur eagle, cara cara, spotted eagle owl, Siberian eagle owl, vulture and bald eagle.

Here is what he had to say upon receiving our parcel in the post:

“I am Lumbee Indian and Eastern Band Cherokee. The Lumbee are descended from the Cheraw Indians and are from the eastern part of the United States.

The feathers are used as a connection between me (Kevin), the Great Spirit (God) and the Spirit of the Bird. They are a symbol of respect and honour.

I wear them on my Regalia which is a traditional outfit that I wear during our tribal ceremony. I have not quite finished making the complete outfit yet, but I have finished a beaded hat that I wore, which has two of the owl feathers in it which you (Suffolk Owl Sanctuary) have donated. I have enclosed the photos of it and also a photo of a small prayer fan made of hawk feathers that I made for my granddaughter - she is 3 years old. She dances in our ceremony as a jingle dancer.” 

We would also like to take this moment to thank Kevin for kindly donating to SOS in return - something which was not expected, but is very much appreciated and will help us to continue our rescue, education and conservation work which is so very important to our owls and birds of prey.  

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Branchers keeping us busy this summer

For most birds of prey, spring and early summer is nesting season - which means that come mid-summer, there’s an influx of young fledglings getting themselves into predicaments as they start to branch.

Branching is when these young birds of prey learn to fly. They don’t develop this skill overnight though…they hop around on the branches near to their nest site for an extended period of time, developing their muscular strength, often returning to the nest to feed or to roost until they are fully independent. More often than not these little fledglings will end up tumbling to the floor whilst finding their feet (or wings!), at risk of being hit by passing traffic. 

Roads can be particularly problematic to all birds, however - not just these youngsters. High speed limits and wide lanes can make some roads especially deadly, and although many birds will sit on a perch and look out for food, barn owls in particular will eat on the wing and swoop low to hunt, sometimes straight into the path of oncoming traffic. Headlights can dazzle and stun these poor birds in the dark, making it quite a challenge to avoid these deadly obstacles, and strong winds and a downdraught from lorries can also prove a hazard, blowing lightweight birds out of control and into danger.

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary’s Raptor Hospital has seen an influx of such like admissions during the recent summer months, all demanding a high level of care and attention in order to give them the best possible chance of survival and a successful release back into the wild. 

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This weak little tawny owl (above) was found on the floor with an eye injury and a parasitic infection. As a young brancher, it’s fairly possible that it had suffered a traffic collision. After a week of treatment and a further week in one of our recuperation aviaries, we felt it was ready for a soft release.

Offering a soft release from a hacking aviary gives young birds an adjustment period to the territory, and a source of food whilst they learn to hunt. They are routinely fed for a period after release until we are confident the bird is establishing the necessary survival skills themselves.

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In July we cared for a large number of kestrels - four of which were newly fledged birds found with a variety of issues such as malnutrition, or injuries from road traffic collisions. 

All were nursed back to full health and also benefitted from a soft release.

This is one of the youngsters (above). Kestrels tend to have a very large clutch of eggs, often with only one or two going on to reach adulthood. With a period of time at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, we were able to give these newly hunting yearlings an increased chance at success. 

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A group of little owl fledglings were all found alongside busy roads, rescued and brought in to us for a check over. 

Luckily they were all fit and healthy, and we were able to release them all together from our secluded hacking soft release aviary.

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What to do if you find a young bird on the floor….

• First and foremost, resist intervening - the parents are probably close by and still caring for them and watching for their safety. Adult birds of prey invest a huge amount of their time and resources into their offspring. The chicks also vocalise frequently and will potentially still be in audio contact with their parents, who will be watching or not far away.

• If you feel like a serious injury has been sustained, carefully place the bird inside a covered and well ventilated cardboard box, on a towel or on some newspaper, and call your nearest bird of prey centre, found here: https://www.owl-help.org.uk/raptor-rescue-orgs

• Do not give the bird food or water.

• For emergency advice between 8.00am and 8.00pm call Suffolk Owl Sanctuary on 03456 807 897 (Opt 5).

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Buzzard Blues

This buzzard was found locally lying on the ground in a bit of a poor state after being mobbed by crows. 

Birds that breed in colonies like crows and gulls are widely seen to attack intruders, especially when their young and territory are threatened by the arrival of a larger bird. This includes flying about the intruder, dive bombing, loud squawking and defecating on them.

Although suffering with possible nerve damage to his leg, fortunately an x-ray showed no breaks with the buzzard we received.

Over the next few weeks, we hope that with some gentle physiotherapy, the leg will regain its movement and he can begin to build fitness again in one of the re-hab aviaries in our new raptor hospital.

The re-hab aviaries give birds time, space and solitude to recover before they are released back to the wild.

Frosty Little Owl pays a visit

This female little owl came in to the hospital after being found on the floor of a barn covered in frost!

After being checked out in our hospital there were no obvious signs of anything major being wrong other than malnutrition (the poor little mite was starving) and weakness.

After a few (warm!) nights in our care room she was put out into one of our smaller re-hab aviaries where we were able to monitor her return to full health and she was released back to the wild shortly afterwards