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submitted 4 months ago by anon6789@lemmy.world to c/superbowl@lemmy.world

From KCCI News

DES MOINES, Iowa — Six endangered Barn owlets, also known as ghost owls, were recently discovered in nesting boxes in Madison County.

"Primarily habitat loss and loss of nesting sites — they have become endangered," said Tanner Donovan, a natural resource specialist for Madison County who installed the nesting boxes two years ago after receiving a grant.

"So to have these birds on our property that we are managing and to be able to have them breed and reproduce offspring on our properties that we manage is really exciting," he said.

The owlets, which are white and do not hoot but instead hiss or shriek to communicate, were found in two wildlife locations managed by Madison County Conservation.

These birds prefer to roost in old tree cavities, but much of their habitat in Iowa has been cut down to make land available for farming.

Donovan expressed his excitement at seeing the owlets show up this summer and encouraged anyone interested to install a box on their property to help support these endangered owls.

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[-] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 months ago

I like that they had to put "ghost" in quotation marks, they really know their viewers well.

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

I never heard it called that, so maybe it is a Midwest thing. It sounded click baity to me, so I clarified the headline.

It seems an appropriate name, but I feel it has a more negative connotation than Barn Owl.

[-] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 months ago

It was in quotes in the original title card, you did nothing wrong, friend!

this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2024
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For owls that are superb.

US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now

International Wildlife Rescues: RescueShelter.com

Australia Rescue Help: WIRES

Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Italy Wild Bird Rescue: wildvogelhilfe.org

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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