Northern Saw-whet Owl #12-2562
Admission Date:
November 15, 2012
Location of Rescue:
Lynchburg, VA
Cause of Admission / Condition:
Caught in a mist net
Prognosis:
Good
Patient Status:
Current Patient
On November 15, a Northern Saw-whet Owl was admitted to the Wildlife Center as patient #12-2562. The small owl had captured in a mist net at a bird banding station in Lynchburg on November 13 and upon release was unable to fly. In most cases, birds that fly into these nets remain unharmed. However, birds that struggle against the net may sustain injuries to their muscles.
The initial rescuer kept the bird overnight and attempted a second release the following day. The owl was still unable to fly, prompting the rescuer to bring the bird to the Wildlife Center for continued care.
Upon admission, the owl was bright, alert and feisty with excellent body condition and good general health. A physical exam revealed no obvious injuries, and blood work showed no abnormal findings. When the owl was flight-tested, however, it appeared that the bird was unable to fly straight. Instead, it seemed to be tilting sideways and was having difficulty lifting its left wing.
The veterinary team further examined the bird and noted some subtle soft-tissue swelling in the owl’s left shoulder, indicating that there is a minor soft-tissue injury.
The owl is on cage rest and will be given an anti-inflammatory to reduce the soft tissue swelling. The veterinary team plans to flight test the bird again in several days and will continue to monitor the owl’s wing use. At this time, the prognosis is good for this owl, and long-term care is not anticipated.
#12-2562 is only the second Northern Saw-whet owl we have seen as a patient at the Wildlife Center in several years. Read about the first Northern Saw-whet Owl patient we received just last month – patient #12-2481.
UpdatesDecember 3, 2012
Rehabilitator Amber reports that saw-whet owl #12-2562 is flying very well. For the past five days, the small owl has been exercised in the hallway of the aviary and is exhibiting good altitude, maneuvering, and silence during flight. The staff will continue to monitor the owl over the next two days, to ensure that the owl's original injury has resolved, but Center staff anticipate that the owl will be released soon. Because the saw-whet owl was only hospitalized for a short amount of time [less than a month], and no eye injuries were present, the rehabilitation staff will likely not provide live-prey testing for the owl.
So adorable
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