Owls in Nevada: A Hoot of a Story

Visiting hours begin at dusk

Baby Barn OwlPhoto bySuzette Feilen

In Northern Nevada, owls are abundant. We see a vast range of these nighttime predators here - from the very small like a Burrowing Owl to the larger species like a Great Horned Owl.

Burrowing OwlPhoto byBird Fact

Great Horned OwlPhoto byWallpaper.com

My wife is Suzette Feilen and an avian wildlife rescuer. She founded FlyAway Bird Rescue just this year but has been rehabbing birds for more than 30 years. So far this season, she has admitted over 25 orphaned baby Barn Owls alone.

First, she has to hand-feed them for several weeks. Their diets consist of raw chicken with a calcium powder additive for the bone they are missing if they were being fed mice by their parents.

Then they do begin to receive dead mice - the whole thing all at once! This is an expensive diet to afford because each mouse can cost up to $6 each if alive and $4 if dead. Sounds disgusting but it is what they eat in the wild ergo, the Barnie menu must consist of their main delicacy if to be released.

Once old enough, they are put into an outside aviary that is 12' tall 24' long, and 12' wide. Inside is a farm master tank where live mice are kept. The owls must be able to catch the mice if they want to eat and prove they are releasable.

Round Farmmaster Tank to hold live mice.Photo byFreeland at Free Farm

It doesn't take long for their instincts to take hold and within three days of mousing on their own, they can be taken to an ideal place to begin a new life.

Two nights ago Suzette yelled into the house for me to come outside ASAP! When I stepped out onto the back porch Suz quietly said "Check it out! Wild Barn Owls are flying around the raptor pen communicating with the Banies inside."

With her headlamp on she looked up which shined the light into the night sky. At that moment a beautiful wild Barn owl flew over our heads with its wings spread out.

It was a gorgeous, lighter-colored, brown, and white Barn Owl. It circled and landed on an electrical pole near the owl cage. On the next pole over was a second Barn Owl visiting its newfound friends as well.

It was an amazing sight to see. These birds knew there was something up in the neighborhood and wanted to find out exactly what. Those four Barnies in that pen will be released within the next day or two.

A full grown Barn Owl in flight with dinner.Photo byBob BreweronUnsplash

Yabba Dabba Doo! I love owl success stories. They're always a hoot!

Peace, Love, and Unconditional Happiness!

I'm Done!Photo byH. Mikel Feilen

lighter-colored