Shorty is a Short-eared Owl, a medium-sized member of the Owl family. The Short-eared Owl is easy to identify. Getting to be up to 17 inches long and 17 ounces, it is considered to be a medium-sized owl. It has a speckled brown coloration, large round head, and pale chest with thin, brown streaks. It is even easier to point out when flying due to a large buff patch on the outer part of its wing. When flying, it glides very close to the ground (almost as if it were hopping) with a distinctive, floppy flight.
You can find a Short-eared Owl in a variety of places since it is distributed across the Americas and Eurasia. Usually nesting on the ground, it will make its home in prairies, tundra, marshes, and woodlands. Although Nature usually suffers from man-made things like strip-mining, the Short-eared Owl has actually used mines as a nesting place, just a fun-fact. Like most owls, it preys upon small mammals like rats and mice. Killing its food with a hard bite, it will usually swallow its meal whole, headfirst.
Shorty was brought to Fallen Feathers because there were no physical signs of why he could not fly. We took him to our good friend Dr. Hillary Frank at North Central Animal Hospital where two small fractures were found in his wing. Unfortunately, these bones had calcified into the position of the fracture, inhibiting Shorty from rotating his wing properly to fly. As a result, we’ve taken in Shorty as a permanent resident of Fallen Feathers and have trained him to be an education bird. He calmly sits on stumps and perches during presentations and has wowed numerous people.
Fallen Feathers assists with all birds that become lost, orphaned, or injured. Locating and reuniting orphaned birds with their parents is highly encouraged. If the parents cannot be located, the bird will be raised and returned to the wild. This process includes feeding, housing, socializing, environmental adaption, and back up release support. Injured birds receive medical attention from licensed rehabilitators and veterinary care is provided when necessary. Education presentations are given to the public upon request, based on availability. Lost pets will be posted in the local newspaper. When such efforts have been exhausted, pets will be put up for adoption in accordance with our policies.
Volunteering and donations are greatly appreciated. For volunteering and donating opportunities please see Volunteering and donations. Found a lost or injured birds please call 623*533*2348. We welcome the community and offer educational presentation. Andrew
