A palm ghost owl named Rocky recovers at the Ravensbid Wildlife Center. It was found in a 23-meter-tall Christmas tree that was transported from upstate New York to Rockefeller Square in Manhattan.
Photo by RAVENSBEARD WILDLIFE CENTER
Written by NATASHA DALY
This week, a small owl showed us super resilience: it survived hiding in a giant Christmas tree shipped to New York. On November 24, it was finally able to soar freely.
The Palm Ghost Owl is one of the smallest owls in North America. The story goes back to a 23-meter-tall spruce tree in upstate New York that was cut down and trucked to Manhattan's Rockefeller Square to be dressed up as the iconic Christmas tree of the year. However, no one expected that the tree was inhabited by an 18-centimeter-tall palm ghost owl.
The tough bird was treated for several days at the Ravensbild Wildlife Centre before being released on the evening of 24 November. Evening is when owls are most active.
"Every time I release a bird, I always choke up because it's a job I love from the bottom of my heart. It's so beautiful, and that's what our lives are all about: watching all the healed people return to nature," says Ellen Kalish, a wildlife rehabilitator. From her home in Saugetis, New York, she is responsible for the operations of Ravensbid.
It was a Wednesday, and Kalish "almost dropped the phone on the ground" when he got a call about the owl. The caller said her husband, a staff member decorating the Christmas tree, spotted a small owl in Rockefeller Square as he was preparing to set up Christmas. Rescuers picked it up, fearing it might be injured after being trapped for many days. However, when Kalish arrived, the little guy was standing in the cardboard box, looking straight at her. "I thought to myself, this is a miracle! How did the bird survive? ”
She named it Rockefeller, or Rocky for short.
Ellen Kalish, head of the Ravensbild Wildlife Centre, is caring for Rocky. The owl was dehydrated but uninjured and, after 5 days of rehabilitation, was ready to return to the wild.
"It's dehydrated and very hungry," said Kalish, who estimated Rocky might have been unable to eat or drink for days. She immediately brought Rocky water and food (a few frozen rats), which Rocky devoured. The veterinarian examined it and X-rays showed that Rocky had no fractures or internal injuries. On Thursday, it started bathing itself, which shows it feels good. (Kalish reveals that an owl bathing will get "water everywhere.") ）
Kalish tells us that while most migratory birds are tenacious, 20 years of bird rehabilitation, she's found that owls are actually vulnerable.
"They're predators and used to being ready to attack at all times. When they are in danger or sick, they are not in a good situation. "As for Rocky, it's so gratifying that he recovered so quickly and energetically after going through the torture.
Americans fall in love with "Rockefeller"
Kalish learned that Rocky was doing well and decided to share his legendary experience on his Facebook page. "This story is special, and everyone wants good news these days. I can't have the news on my own," she said. Soon, the story spread, ecstatic comments poured in, and she began getting calls from the media across the Country. Finally, even needing help from her family, she also had to take care of Rocky and several other birds recovering at home, including a forest duck, four pigeons and a chestnut-winged eagle.
While Rocky's cuteness is unbeatable, Kalish doesn't want people to misunderstand it. "We have to remember that these are the top predators. They are fierce, not weak and hairy. In fact, the smallest birds hurt me the most. ”
The tree rocky found was donated by Daddy Adi's Department Store in Oneonta, New York, and after police protected it for days to make sure no one destroyed it, it was cut down on Nov. 12, hoisted by a crane onto a flatbed truck, and bumped 320 kilometers to Manhattan.
It's unclear when Rocky entered the tree, whether it was perched after it was cut down, or whether it was originally inhabited there. Kalish thought the latter was more likely, and Rocky just couldn't escape. "It could be hiding in a tree hole, or it could be rocked silly, clutching branches and unable to move." It may be frightening. ”
Kalish said the lumberjacks were upset about what happened to Rocky because they had carefully examined the tree to make sure there were no animals hiding in it. But the palm ghost owl is petite and good at camouflage, she said: "Animals are easy to overlook, especially those who don't want to be discovered." ”
Ready to fly
On Friday, Kalish moved the Lodge into an outdoor training cage to get it fit while also observing its flight. By Tuesday, it appeared to be ready to fly away, and Kalish planned to release it back into the nearby taiga on the evening of November 24.
Some, including Residents of Onionta, left messages on Facebook asking why owls were not released at Oneonta, the tree-cutting site. Kalish says that because palm ghost owl are "nomadic" and are not limited to a specific habitat. "They don't have a particularly favorite tree, and when they run out of food resources, they go somewhere else."
As for the other birds of prey, Kalish intends to release them where they are found; unlike them, the palm ghost owl is not monogamous, but looks for a new partner every season. After consulting with a number of experts, she said: "It's not worth the pressure to take it with you and drive." ”
Jason Ward, a birdwatcher and director of species diversity at the American Bird Conservancy, agrees. Although the palm ghost owl is only 82 grams, he said, "it is the most tenacious and witty bird." I have read that someone saw the palm ghost owl on the Atlantic Ocean 113 kilometers away, and it landed on a fishing boat. ”
Kalish hopes that Rocky's amazing story will give people an insight into the daily work of wildlife rehabilitators across the country. She encourages people inspired by Rocky's story and supports the work of local wildlife healers.
Will I also have owls on my Christmas tree?
If you plan to cut down or buy a Christmas tree, you don't have to worry about the birds trapped in it.
Chal Lundgren, a Christmas tree expert in oregon State University's Forestry Department, said that while Christmas tree growers occasionally find abandoned bird nests in trees, based on his 30 years of running a Christmas tree farm in Oregon, no live bird has ever been found.
The states of Oregon and Washington stipulate that all trees shipped to hot areas such as Hawaii must be shaken at a precise speed of 15 seconds to shake off dead needles, wasp nests and slugs.
For the Christmas tree, "this is a one-time experience." Lundgren said there could be no owls unless a 23-meter-tall tree was cut down.
Rocky returns to his own wilderness, and his former home, the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Square, will be lit on December 2 by an 8-kilometer-long string of decorative light strips.
(Translator: Sky4)