THREE young Barn Owl owlets recently found themselves under the care of the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) after a concerned citizen brought them to the centre on April 3.

The owlets’ nest had met a tragic fate on a construction site, leaving them vulnerable and in dire need of assistance.

Also read: Rescued Crowned Eagle takes flight once again [Video]

Clint Halkett-Siddall, director of Crow, emphasised the significance of Barn Owls in ecosystems, noting their silent flight and adept nocturnal hunting skills, crucial for controlling rodent populations. The five rescued owlets, varying in size, reflected the natural hatching patterns of their species.

Halkett-Siddall explained that the owlets were currently under the attentive care of the clinic’s nursing team. “They are being fed a variety of natural meat products every three hours until they begin feeding independently, a milestone already achieved by two of the older birds,” he shared.

To ensure the owlets do not become overly familiar with humans, measures are in place to keep them together and limit human interaction. As they progress through rehabilitation, they will transition to bird of prey enclosures by the end of April, marking the final phase of their journey towards recovery.

Although no definitive release date has been set, Crow aims to reintroduce the owlets back into the wild by the end of May. Halkett-Siddall outlined plans to place them in a Barn Owl box within a suitable environment close to their original location, ensuring they continue to receive nourishment until they are prepared to soar as independent, wild birds once more.

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