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August 28, 2008 : Visit from a Barred Owl
I received a call yesterday @ 10:30am from David Grieser, the garden supervisor, that a barred owl was hanging out near the moon gate in the Asian Garden.
Heading over there with camera in tow, I took a few photographs before heading back and reporting to the fine folks at the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL) that we might have an injured owl in the garden. The drooping right wing and some aberrant behaviour (allowing people to approach it and occasionally sitting on the ground) hinted to me that something wasn't quite right.
The animal care people at OWL suggested that it might have a bruised or broken wing:
If bruised, I was told it should recover eventually. In the meantime, staff are keeping an eye out for the owl to help ensure it is perched in trees, etc.
If the wing is broken, I was told that the owl will eventually weaken to the point where it can be captured and sent for care and rehab. It will be found on the ground and unable to fly to a perch.
So, the staff are keeping an eye out for the owl now (it went into hiding as of late yesterday afternoon). If you're visiting the garden and you spot it on the ground or appearing to be in some difficulty, do inform a staff member, so one of us can investigate and call OWL if the owl is in need of care. Thank you!
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at August 28, 2008 10:55 AM
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Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at September 2, 2008 9:52 AM
And a final update - it sounds like the owl has recovered. It was spotted today in the Asian Garden, and seemed to be back to good health.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at September 5, 2008 5:11 PM
Aren't they, when in good health, a bit dangerous?
There are signs up in Pacific Spirit Park about what to do if you encounter one.
I saw one last year and even high on on a tree,it seemed as big as a cocker spaniel!
Posted by: Angela at November 9, 2008 11:46 AM
Please share your comments about the write-up and any accompanying photographs. Telling a story about the subject of the write-up is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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UBC Botanical Garden Blog is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department within the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at The University of British Columbia.
Just to add a bit of information. The owl was seen again on Friday in the Native Garden. It still had a droopy right wing, but less-so than in these photographs -- seems like the wing was bruised.