Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl who gained fame after living free in New York City after escaping from captivity, was weakened by rat poison and a pigeon virus to the extent he would have died even if he had not fatally collided with a building earlier this year, a postmortem has found. Flaco was 13 […]
Tag: owls
Petition: Help Save 500,000 Owls from Being Culled
The U.S. government is proposing a plan to shoot 500,000 barred owls dead as part of a massive cull in the Pacific Northwest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is suggesting this horrible cull in order to restore balance between barred owls and northern spotted owls in Washington, Oregon, and California. In order to carry […]
Why do middle-aged people love birds so much?
I often wonder why birds speak so universally to the sagging middle-aged soul that it has become a comic trope – the vertiginously swift passage from: “Is that a robin?” to: “There’s a lesser yellowleg two hours’ drive away, start the car.” Is it the freedom they represent? No cholesterol, no mortgage, no self-assessment tax […]
Can Flaco the Escaped Owl Survive and Thrive in NYC?
When a Eurasian eagle owl named Flaco escaped the Central Park Zoo in February of 2023, zoo officials, avian experts, and the public worried about his ability to survive. However, Flaco soon proved that he was capable of making it on his own. The Eurasian owl had spent 13 years in captivity after being brought […]
US Government Wants Hunters to Shoot 500,000 Owls
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants hunters to shoot more than 500,000 barred owls to help protect other native species. Barred owls are an invasive species in the Pacific Northwest, originating on the U.S. East Coast, and they pose a huge threat to native protected species, including northern spotted owls. As part of a […]
Owl nest boxes – an expert guide for adding one to your backyard
Q: I would like to encourage more owls into our outdoor space, and plan to buy an owl nesting box to do so. Is there any advice I need to know before I proceed? A: Adding a nesting box is one of the best ways to attract owls to your backyard. However, there are a […]
Canadian Cabinet Rejects Emergency Protection for Endangered Spotted Owl
The Canadian cabinet has denied an urgent plea to protect the critically endangered northern spotted owl. This rejection has cast a dark shadow over the future of this iconic species, signaling a bleak outlook for its survival in the coming years. The decision comes after the Wilderness Committee environmental advocacy group and Environment Minister Steven […]
The Most Common Owl in Britain is Hardly Ever Seen
Celebrated more than any other avian species, Tawny Owls remain elusive, scarcely gracing us with their presence. This species, Britain’s most common leads a predominantly nocturnal existence, despite there being roughly 50,000 breeding pairs in the UK. But, while they might be out of sight, they are far from being out of mind (and ear). […]