Autumn's Big Day (Barn Owl Release)

It's seems like only days, but I have been at Fallen Feathers for over three months.  My feathers are all in and I'm starting to fly.  I'm not a baby any more so I don't click for my food.  I've started making other barn owl sounds, mainly my scream.  We barn owls don't hoot like other owls.   

I don't like being around the humans.  I watch them carefully when it's feeding time.  Two days ago, one of the volunteers came into my habitat to take my picture.  She told me I was beautiful.  I tried to intimidate her with my wings and then I was ready to fly away too, if needed.

Today that same volunteer came and took me from my habitat and drove me away.  I screamed at her to tell her how displeased I was but she told me that I would be fine and that I was going back home to see my parents.  I was being released. 

I don't like car rides but it was worth it.  I saw the man who took me to Fallen Feathers.  He was very excited to have me back in the area.  He told us where my parents live and said that I have a sibling that just started flying too.    I hope they will welcome me back.

I was taken good care of.  I'm healthy and strong.  I'm ready to face the whole world. 

Autumn, the Barn Owl 

It was a Fowl Kind of Day

I don't want to jinx anything, but it's been a little quiet around Fallen Feathers these days.   The last of the baby doves and pigeons are grown.  Most of the intakes now are injured birds.  It's time to get projects done.  Volunteers have been building new aviaries and taking down old structures that no longer fit our needs.  We are "cleaning house". 

For two of us, it's also our very lucky day.  Today is the day that I get released.  I'm Charles, the Coot.  I'm also called a mud hen.  I'm a water fowl that has a chicken like beak but webbed feet.  I was rescued by the Brophy College Preparatory Rowing Team  at Tempe Town Lake and brought all the way up to Fallen Feathers.   Mac, the coach checks on me regularly, makes me feel very special. 

Charles, the Coot and Mel, the Mallard



Charles, the Coot was very excited to be released and quickly joined up with fellow coots in the pond.

 

Mel, the Mallard, casually surveyed the area before joining the flock.

 

 

For more information about Fallen Feathers, please visit our website at www.fallenfeathers.org

We Are Grateful For Our Partners

What a surprise for us all.  Today wasn't a scheduled event, but Jody said it was something that we needed to do.  We birds don't like to go hungry.  We indeed give a Hoot About Hunger.

What is this all about, you ask?  Today, was Super Saturday Turkey Drive for St Mary's Food Bank Alliance at Albertson's Grocery Stores around metro Phoenix.   What you probably don't know is that Fallen Feathers is an agency of St Mary's Food Bank.  We receive pet food when it is donated to the food bank.  While this is not guaranteed food, it is always appreciated.

A tip of the feather to this great organization.  We thought we would come out and show our support and our gratitude this season.

Where am I?

I'm not really sure what happened, but I found myself in the dark in a cage at a strange place. 

After the sun came up, a family came by and I was scooped up and brought inside where I was looked at, felt, wings stretched out and then put in a warm aquarium.  This whole process was a bit scary but the people seemed very excited about my arrival and they were gentle with me.

 A little bit later I was fed and it was tasty.

It's been a week and I'm still here at Fallen Feathers.  The Lady who answers the phone, Jody, lives here, it's her home.  She takes care of us all.

I don't see Mom or Dad anymore but I get the care I need.  I'm kept warm.  I get food.  I see other birds around me getting the same treatment only they don't look like me.  They don't eat the same things I eat.  I'm bigger than they are.  

I'm growing fast.  Most of my fluff is disappearing and my feathers are growing in. 

  The lady that brought me inside from the cage visited today.  She is a volunteer.  She told me when I get bigger and my feathers are all in that I'll learn to fly that she hopes I'll be "releasable".  I don't know what that means yet, but it sounds nice. 

Autumn, the barn owl

For more information about Fallen Feathers, visit our webpage at www.fallenfeathers.org