Ivan the Girl Screech/Barn Owl

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Natalie

Well, the guy who’s helped me for the last 7 years, Ivan, found a barn owl juvenile on the road outside our gate. I was so EXCITED to think, “I get to rehab it!” I love owls and think all birds of prey are regal and mystical. Further, Seans father, Jheri Redding loved owls and used to collect owl figurines. He said, “Owls guard your money.” When I saw this little downy figure Ivan had in his hands I squealed and grabbed ahold of it (with no regard for safety!). It had nasty claws and some feathering but was still flightless. I did a ton of research and SADLY discovered that rehab facilities won’t even take them because they do not release well. This means the cost it takes to rehab these angels is lost because only about 30 % will live after release. Further, Barn Owls are the most common owl and so not really worth the effort in terms of “Cost benefit ratio.” NONE of this mattered to me. I have giant flight pens AND a plethora of rats in my barn. OWLS require rats or mice everyday and these cannot be frozen… must be fresh or thawed. It sounded like a “no brainer” with the amount of rats I know we have. Oh, boy, NOW, 3 weeks later, the realization has set in. Every single night, I go “rat hunting” for “Ivan the female owl” so she can have fresh meat. At first, I was squeamish and freaked out about killing rats with a stake and my hands. NOW, nope, I am seriously driven to support this little girl. I feel like a mamma just doing her duty. It is amazing how the motherly instinct kicks in when we have to take care of a baby,

Well, now, my girl is completely flighted but still requires my ability to hunt for her. Soon, she will move to the giant flight pens I have. Once acclimated, I will open the door so she can come and go as she pleases. I am hoping she won’t be a statistic, but will live the remainder of her life at Namaste Farms (they can live upwards of 20 years).

Oh, and just to let you know; those rats in her cage… yes, I hunted for my girl.

Category: Current (what's new) Tags:

5 Comments on “Ivan the Girl Screech/Barn Owl”

Lana Avrutova
June 17, 2012

Athena the Godess walks with you!!!!We Russians believe That owls bring money to your home ,we keep figurines.She is lovely! I wish I could experience something like this once in my life!!

Reply
Nomes
June 28, 2012

i hope she’ll keep your farm as a homebase!

Reply
- Natalie
  August 1, 2012
  
  Nomes, you’re my girl! I miss you a lot and appreciate how much you do for me and Namaste Farms. I feel really lucky to have met you.
  
  Reply
Janice
November 23, 2012

Natalie,
Can you give us an update on Ivan the Owl? I would have done exactly the same thing – find a way to keep it alive and return it to the wild when it was ready. Also thank you for all the inspiration to try new things as a spinner! I’m a beginner with big aspirations and you make me think about dyeing and spinning in a whole new wonderful way. Thank you and namaste!

Reply
- Natalie
  December 8, 2012
  
  Sorry, just found this. I actually left Ivan’s cage open yet still gave him/her food everyother day i.e. fresh rabbit or squirrel. One day, Ivan just never came back. I still wonder if I will see Ivan again.
  
  Reply