A latest oiled chook affected person is a reminder that Worldwide Chicken Rescue’s specialised decontamination efforts usually embrace non-aquatic chook species. The newest uncommon chook that got here into care was a Western Burrowing Owl.
This owl, native to grasslands, shrublands, and deserts, wound up within the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara County on October 8, 2024. The circumstances of the way it ended up within the water are unknown, however because it was struggling to outlive, it grew to become contaminated by oil, rendering its feathers ineffective for insulation and flight. With out intervention, this little owl’s probabilities of survival would have been slim.
As soon as stabilized, the chook was completely washed by Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician Jeanette Bates and Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern Roaa Abdalla. Mild sedation was used to maintain the chook calm through the wash course of. Now clear, it has been transferred again to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Community for continued care till it’s launched again into the wild.
Chicken Rescue’s two California wildlife facilities are central to the Oiled Wildlife Care Community (OWCN) offering necessary and protected look after oiled and contaminated wildlife. Washing and assortment of used water is safely undertaken to satisfy stringent state necessities on storage and disposal of waste water.
The Struggle to Save Burrowing Owls in California
Burrowing Owls are one of many smallest owls, roughly seven to 10 inches tall, and they’re the one owl species to nest underground. They’ve been going through important challenges because of improvement, agriculture, and clear vitality initiatives all of which contribute to habitat loss.
California wildlife policymakers have chosen to guard the Burrowing Owl as they consider the potential of classifying the quickly declining species as endangered or threatened. Final week, the state Fish and Sport Fee unanimously voted to designate this chook as a candidate for everlasting protections below state legislation, whereas additionally bearing in mind the views of stakeholders from doubtlessly impacted industries. Extra data might be present in a latest article printed by the Los Angeles Instances.
Burrowing Owls are shortly approaching localized extinction within the Bay Space, the place fewer than 25 breeding pairs stay, in line with the Heart for Organic Variety. Solely about 225 breeding pairs are left in central-western and southwestern California. Numbers are additionally declining within the Central Valley, which has fewer than 1,500 breeding pairs, largely within the southern Central Valley.
As city improvement and agricultural practices proceed to threaten these habitats, each rescued owl represents an opportunity to boost consciousness about their plight. By guaranteeing this owl receives the care it wants and is finally returned to a protected surroundings, we take a step towards defending not only one chook, however the way forward for its complete species.
