Help Looking after Igor - a Scop's Owl

[BOD]

Hi

We now are the surrogate parents for Igor a fledgling Scops Owl who fell out of his nest last night.

He/she is now skulking on top of my bergen pouch ( and c**p**g on it). Why Igor? Because he looks like one - bulging eyes, a dark manky robe, hunches and walks like a hunchback.

Igor has taken two earthworms and three crickets from chopsticks but i have no idea how to give him/her water.

Any ideas? Do they need water separately or do they process the water in the food?

Looking for any ideas. Our intention is that Igor return to the wild when mature. We do not want a pet.

 

[T1Viper]

Hi,

i found this on google, hope it helps.

4.4 Drinking water. Owls should always be given a supply of water — it's simply not true that owls don't drink. The water is best given in something that can’t be upset, like a glazed pottery dog’s bowl. The type I use are 5 in across by 2 in deep, sold by my local vet, and are perfect. Wash the bowl and replace the water every day. The owl will almost certainly try to bathe in the water, making a terrific mess by spraying water all around, so be prepared!

from http://www.godsownclay.com/TawnyOwls/Articles/Orphans/careoforphans2.html

its talking about tawny owls but i think its universal that they need water.

Tom

 

[blacktimberwolf]

When ever you find a fledgling or baby bird, you should either try to put it back in the nest or put it high up, out of harms way near the original nest. The parents will continue to feed & care for it much better than we can..........if however you notice that the parents aren't taking care of it,( after a period of time) then you can try to raise it...........................................it's a pretty time consuming buisness & with no guarantee of success.....as for feeding, water, where to keep it, etc. I'm sure there must be quite a bit of info. on the web...........................good luck

 

[Nova & Pinky]

When ever you find a fledgling or baby bird, you should either try to put it back in the nest or put it high up, out of harms way near the original nest. The parents will continue to feed & care for it much better than we can..........if however you notice that the parents aren't taking care of it,( after a period of time) then you can try to raise it...........................................it's a pretty time consuming buisness & with no guarantee of success.....as for feeding, water, where to keep it, etc. I'm sure there must be quite a bit of info. on the web...........................good luck

This.
In many cases if you put the baby up high the parents will find it and contrary to many reports, parents will recognise their chick if it's been handled by humans. Try to get it back to the nest if possible.

If the parents show no signs of returning after a period of time, then try hand rearing, although unfortunately despite best care and efforts, a very high proportion of hand-reared babies die.

Beware of imprinting:

Imprinting is one of the best-known behavioral adaptations of baby birds. Associated with a chick's ability to identify its parents, imprinting is a learning process that allows baby birds to identify their own species. The imprinting process determines much of the birds' future behavior: rituals of courtship and mating will be directed at the species the bird has imprinted on. Imprinting also determines a bird's habitat preferences, and in predatory birds, determines how they attack their prey.

I'd strongly recommend also talking to your local vet or wildlife shelter who can offer more specific rearing advice and/or facilities, should the parents not return to their baby.

 

[ged]

Always interfere as little as possible. Don't take any young wild bird except as a last resort. If nothing else it's illegal in the UK.

 

[BOD]

Hi,

i found this on google, hope it helps.

4.4 Drinking water. Owls should always be given a supply of water — it's simply not true that owls don't drink. The water is best given in something that can’t be upset, like a glazed pottery dog’s bowl. The type I use are 5 in across by 2 in deep, sold by my local vet, and are perfect. Wash the bowl and replace the water every day. The owl will almost certainly try to bathe in the water, making a terrific mess by spraying water all around, so be prepared!

from http://www.godsownclay.com/TawnyOwls/Articles/Orphans/careoforphans2.html

its talking about tawny owls but i think its universal that they need water.

Tom

Thanks Tom really good advice dispelling some myths. Where I am some options are closed. If I hadn't taken it the civet cats, cats and dogs would have.

 

[v-ness]

BOD,
have you got a local wildlife rescue centre, or a bird of prey centre near by?

Even if they havent someone with experience to raise it, maybe they can at least give you advice throughout your efforts.

Generally with wildlife, they will need fed every 3-4 hours, even at night.

Good Luck and some piccies would be fab

Cheers
Ness

 

[blacktimberwolf]

This.
In many cases if you put the baby up high the parents will find it and contrary to many reports, parents will recognise their chick if it's been handled by humans. Try to get it back to the nest if possible.

If the parents show no signs of returning after a period of time, then try hand rearing, although unfortunately despite best care and efforts, a very high proportion of hand-reared babies die.

Beware of imprinting:

I'd strongly recommend also talking to your local vet or wildlife shelter who can offer more specific rearing advice and/or facilities, should the parents not return to their baby.

Nice of you to say the same thing as me.............vets aren't really the best people to ask unless they specialise in or have an interest in birds of prey, it may also be illegal to handle & keep such birds without the appropriate licence.(as it is in Europe)....I doubt if there is a rescue shelter or sanctuary specific to birds in their vicinity........."imprinting" in birds is most critical at hatching time, as the first thing the chick sees will be his species but it's always a good idea to be as 'invisible' as possible.

 

[Nova & Pinky]

Agreed - but vets will often know who the most local wildlife experts are.
I used to work at a birds of prey centre years ago, who were very often received referrals or advice requests from the local vets

They had a gorgeous snowy owl who was heavily imprinted.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Agreed - but vets will often know who the most local wildlife experts are.
I used to work at a birds of prey centre years ago, who were very often received referrals or advice requests from the local vets

They had a gorgeous snowy owl who was heavily imprinted.

True about some vets, but prehaps there are more 'knowledgeable' vets per square mile in London & the home counties, than in Australia but I'm only supposing.............................

 

[Nova & Pinky]

The centre I worked at was in a very rural part of the Midlands (Staffordshire), but point taken