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submitted 10 months ago by anon6789@lemmy.world to c/superbowl@lemmy.world

From Hawaii Wildlife Center

Watch out! This burrito bites back. Just a quick checkup for this Pueo (Hawaiian Owl) patient and back to the aviary she goes for quiet time.

I was trying to find what exactly makes the Pueo different from the normal Short Eared Owl, but haven't come across that. The only interesting things I noticed was it's scientific name is Asio flammeus sandwichensis, but I also haven't found where the sandwich part comes from, and I learned about SOS.

So called "sick owl syndrome" is affecting the Pueo, which is typically more hearty than many other local birds species. The cause is not yet determined, but it seems to cause a stumbling behavior. I'll have to look more into this.

For many Hawaiian families, both ancient and modern, pueo are ‘aumakua, ancestral guardians that protect the family from harm.

The Peuo is unique to Hawaii. Its ancestors came over with the Polynesians. Barn Owls were also introduced to the islands in the 50s and 60s when the local government imported 86 Barn Owls.

The extinct stilt owls also used to live there.

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[-] JetpackJackson@feddit.org 3 points 10 months ago

True. Although as an aside, I do think it's funny how sometimes a descriptive name (like "Ruby throated hummingbird") actually turns out to not be very accurate (ex: red bellied woodpecker has only a very slight bit of dull red on the belly!)

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

The woodpecker is a great example of that.

It's also interesting to see when a name gets changed due to new things we learn about them. Easy genetic testing has lead to many scientific name changes especially.

[-] JetpackJackson@feddit.org 3 points 10 months ago

Oh true I didn't think of that, since names can change when we place an animal in a different genus or family

this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2024
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US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now

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If you find an injured owl:

Note your exact location so the owl can be released back where it came from. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist to get correct advice and immediate assistance.

Minimize stress for the owl. If you can catch it, toss a towel or sweater over it and get it in a cardboard box or pet carrier. It should have room to be comfortable but not so much it can panic and injure itself. If you can’t catch it, keep people and animals away until help can come.

Do not give food or water! If you feed them the wrong thing or give them water improperly, you can accidentally kill them. It can also cause problems if they require anesthesia once help arrives, complicating procedures and costing valuable time.

If it is a baby owl, and it looks safe and uninjured, leave it be. Time on the ground is part of their growing up. They can fly to some extent and climb trees. If animals or people are nearby, put it up on a branch so it’s safe. If it’s injured, follow the above advice.

For more detailed help, see the OwlPages Rescue page.

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