From World Bird Sanctuary
Which of us needs help? 3 of these 5 baby Great Horned Owls are injured, 2 are not. Can you tell which is which? Put your guesses in the comments!
Baby season has started with our first calls about baby Great Horned Owls. A baby’s best chance at a long and successful life in the wild is if they are raised by their parents, so we want to make sure they only come into our care if they actually need it. The first step in this process is to ask the caller to send us a picture of the baby they’ve found.
A photo can help identify numerous factors that would indicate if the animal needs help or not, but even as experienced professionals, we are not always able to discern this from just a photo. If looking at the photo is not definitive, our next step will be to ask questions about the bird’s behavior to further assess. We may also ask for additional photos or videos. If we are still unable to tell if the baby needs help or not, we’ll send a team out to do a field exam. If the baby is healthy, we leave it in a safe spot for the parents to continue caring for. If it is injured, it then comes back to the hospital with us for care.
If you find wildlife (babies or adults) on the ground, it’s important to contact a licensed rehabilitator right away to see if it needs help. Don’t wait to see if it’s still there in a few hours or recovers on its own. When an animal does need help, the difference of an hour or two can be the difference between life and death. As you can see from these photos, it can be very difficult to tell just by looking at an animal if it is injured or not. An experienced professional will be able to assess the situation and determine the best course of action. We would much rather receive more calls about animals that end up not needing help rather than receive animals when it is now too late to save them.
We’ll post the answer tomorrow to which of these 5 are actually injured and which 2 are healthy.
Let’s see those guesses, c/superbowl!
remindme! 3 days
My guess: 2, 4 and 5. 1 and 3 seem really active so probably healty, the rest not.
That’s the same thing I was looking for.
Seeing them in the wild I’d probably call a rehabber for all 5 to ask what to look out for and let them decide (Germany isn’t that big though). The small floofs outside a nest would warrant looking for a nest at least. And despite the threat display of number 3 it makes me wonder if it’s been hurt (before) as it’s banded.
It’s always best to ask. That’s what we’re here for after all!
If they’re bigger, being on the ground is part of their learning process. For others, they may have just overestimated their current abilities and can get plopped back on a branch for safety.
And others will need to get a checkup to see if anything more significant is going on.
I don’t think I had noticed the leg band, but I was wondering if they were better quality pics because they had already been picked up by a rescue.
I was wondering if they were better quality pics because they had already been picked up by a rescue.
That’s why I’m not sure if it’s a trick question. They are better now but aren’t ready for release could be an option too.
I agree, I am very prepared for some sneaky business going on. 🙃
😎
Very interesting everyone seems to be in consensus so far.
My Opinion
I’m in agreement with you guys, but I’m also wondering if the better quality photos are making them appear healthier.
Floof 3 seems by far the most full of energy though with that nice defensive display. I feel that at least shows its wings are good and its energetic enough to fight some if it comes to that.
Floof 1 I’m also guessing is doing some beak clicking (which is kinda intimidating in person, not gonna lie) which also makes me feel it’s in better shape.
The others look like their trying to shrink back and hide, being more guarded rather than trying to meet the potential threat with threats of their own.
Totally prepared to be wrong though! 😄
Yeah 1 and 3 look more alert to me as well. It looks like 4 has a visible wet injury under its right wing but the photo resolution isn’t great so it’s hard to tell. Definitely tricky, but maybe that’s the point they’re trying to make - it’s hard to tell so better to call a rehabber or other expert to be certain.
Yeah, it’s no good if you’re lucky enough to find a bird and then toss it back to nature before it could get checked out. It may be well enough to get out of sight, but it could be starving, dehydrated, concussed, have a cut or infection you might not notice, parasites, lead poisoning, and so much more.
And just another general reminder, don’t give food or drink to wild animals! There are a number of reasons depending on species, but the odds are much greater you hurt them than help them.
2 and 5 look like YOU’RE gonna need help soon, unless you get away from these grumpy fellas 😅
They’re still small compared to the adults, but they’re still big enough to be intimidating.
This owl looks smaller than any of the 5 examples,and just look at those feet already!
My first baby GHO experience was meeting one like number 3 here. That’s a good bit bigger than the other 4, and puffed up like that, they’re spreading out that 4-5 foot (100-150 cm) wingspan, and start hissing and snapping their beak at you, it makes you pay attention!
It makes me go “let’s just be cool, Kay?” And back away slowly.
If they’re putting baby in a new nest, that means there’s probably an upset momma and poppa owl eyeing him up while he does this too.
No pressure while you’re up on that tall ladder holding and angry, spikey baby! 🫣
1 and 4?
They look the most disorganized.
Nice thought process! I’m getting so anxious to see what the answer is.
I’m guessing #2, #4 and #5 are injured. Less sure about #2 though.
2 is a wildcard. It’s one that is making me wonder if the lower photo quality is keeping folks from choosing that one.
3 and 1 look fine to me, but how 1 is getting back into a nest up a brick wall, I don’t know.
Yes, I’m wondering where 1’s nest was.
I would guess 1, 3, & 4.
Ooo interesting guesses! I’m glad to see some different answers.
I tried peeking, but they havent posted the answers yet. I’ll share them Monday I think.
Looks like they posted the answers and it’s 1, 2 and 4! I can’t expand the post though (don’t use Facebook) so I can’t see what reasoning they gave :/
Got you covered already!
I missed this, great to have the details!
I went with the ones that look how i feel when i get injured:
Grumpy and trying to look like i’m not injured.
Three looks fine, it’s doing a threat display, and seems ambulatory. 4 looks like it might have a bum leg.
The other 3… I’m not even. Gonna take a guess and I won’t be shocked to find I’m wrong.
4 does look the most shy of the gang…
…damn you…
