They’re doing well!
(If you missed the first part of this story, you can read it HERE)
I suppose I didn’t read the fine print when I entered into my agreement with Purdue. She remained gentle and was proud of the new white fluffy life under her body, but she never attempted to feed the young ones. That I did not know.
That week, from Monday through Friday I scrambled each morning to feed the babies at dawn, and the late feeding at sunset each night. Four days after the hatch it snowed and the temperatures plummeted. During these cold temperatures, the babies would have perished while I attempted to feed them. I chose to take them from Purdue and continued to raise them in the warmth of an incubator. Since Purdue did not feed the babies she was not especially bonded to them, and fortunately she returned to her old self after a few days.
For the babies, the transition from the natural heat source and the nurturing of an adult owl to an artificial environment, such as an incubator, was not easy on the little orphans. The incubator was set at a good temperature of 98°F and there was a little round nest, and a feather duster to simulate mother’s presence.
The babies are now one month old and thriving.
The first few days after hatching all young birds are so very vulnerable. They require exact conditions to survive; the correct temperature, quality food at the right time, or otherwise they will perish. There is the deceiving, almost peaceful sleep that ends in death, if food, tactile stimulation, warmth, love, and continuous care are not provided. Little orphans like this will literally sleep themselves to death. It took all day and a great amount of guessing, observation and intuition to adjust to their needs. I did not leave their side until late evening that day, when I felt that they had adjusted and were going to survive. The experience humbled me and taught me valuable lessons of how little we really do know - and - how efficiently parent birds are able to raise their young.
In spite of my clumsy attempts the babies began to thrive and eat the usual huge amounts to grow feathers, gain body mass and good strong bones. The days that followed were filled with joy and pride.
A female Great Horned Owl named Nana was admitted with a fractured humerus. She received proper treatment and her fracture was pinned by our wonderful veterinarian, Dr. Lee Eggleston. From an early age both owlets were exposed to Nana’s image and presence. She became their foster mom and she helped us raise the babies to become independent of human assistance.
Nana not only adopted Purdue’s babies, but another troubled little owl that must have been under human care for too long. “Sweetie” needed to learn about how to be an owl and make it on her own. Nana took care of this. On June 29, 2004, a little over two months after hatch, I entered their outdoor cage to take more pictures. Like peas in a pod, looking so much alike, the two owlets sat together, looking at the “stranger” that entered their cage, remembering nothing of the love and care I gave to them when they needed me most. Those are the rewards we strive for. They became wild, independent, and each time it happens, it seems like a miracle to me. Without the help of lovely Purdue, Nana, the considerate volunteers and staff of the Foundation, they would be nothing. I often think of their desperate parents that were deprived of raising their own family in such unsuitable habitat.
In the fall of this year, when Purdue’s Babies will be released, we will honor and appreciate their poor, suffering parents. And I wish them success for the next year, hopefully finding a nest and a place where they will be able to raise their very own family.
Epilog
Many times young, fledging birds are captured by well meaning people who think that there is an injury to the wings. When young birds leave the nest they cannot fly well. Depending on the species, it takes between 3 days to one week until they have mastered the art of flying. This condition reminds me of the plight of hatching baby sea turtles or crocodiles that must make their journey towards the safety of the water to survive. Our young birds must make it to the safety of a tree. In most cases, without the interference of humans, they do a wonderful job. The time after fledging represents one of the most vulnerable time in their lives. In 2004 we were able to return a record number of nine young owlets to their nest sites and re-unite them with their parents and siblings. Each bird was examined carefully for potential injuries and problems before it was returned to the nest site. We tied artificial nests, such as baskets to trees, or just simply returned them to a nest tree, when they were old enough to branch. All babies were monitored and thrived after we returned them to their parents.
Sigrid Noll Ueblacker
June 30th, 2004
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