From Rocky Point Bird Observatory
The first owl at the Rocky Point station was a total surprise - a Long-eared Owl! In the past several years we have been lucky to catch one during the season, but it is not a given. This owl species is particularly cryptic & not a lot is known about them here in North America. In order to safely band and weigh larger owls, we put them in a wrap which keeps them calm.
I take that as a compliment you find so much to discuss with me 😁
We have a bunch of animals that stick around or at least in the general area, and will come to visit from time to time. They're wild, and can fend for themselves fine, but they can still recall bits of easy living and will come back in to visit, sometimes with their mates or new families. We get a lot of songbirds that will stay, and a few raptors, especially vultures. We don't give them handouts, but squirrels and birds will steal from us as we're taking food out to current patients. I have had a few particular bluejays that would steal things from me that I could tell were definitely not strangers to our clinic. Like anything else, they learn we're a bit safer to be around than other humans elsewhere and a safe place in general. That's about the most thanks we can get from them while still succeeding in our work, so it's about the only thank you we will ever get from them, even though they still act like they can't stand us! 😄