THREE young barn owls are preparing for their return to the wild just weeks after they faced death in a cold barn in Moray.
Alvin, Simon and Theodore – dubbed the Chick-munks by their rescuers – were rescued at just five week olds on Valentine’s Day, when a farmer in New Elgin alerted the Scottish SPCA after one had fallen from the nest.
A fortnight later, the animal rescue charity was called out again to fetch his brothers. It’s thought they were born up to three months earlier than expected. The trio has been cared for by staff at the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, near Alloa.
Manager Colin Seddon, said: “When we first got the chicks they weren’t great flyers and certainly wouldn’t have been able to survive on their own in the wild. Having been in our care since mid-February they are now ready to be released back into the wild.
“The barn owls have been placed at a ‘soft’ release site, meaning they’ve been housed in a barn with a meshed viewing area to the outside world. The barn is in an area that provides a suitable habitat for the owls who will be kept in the barn for up to two weeks. They’re free to fly about and learn to catch any mice which find their way in to the barn, but will also be provided food by the landowner.
“In a couple of weeks’ time, when the weather is suitable, the owls will be released. We’ll continue to have food placed in and around the barn to help them adjust to catching their own food in the wild. We’ll also ensure a nesting box is placed on the outside of the barn in the hope of them taking up residence and breeding in the future.”
Barn Owls hunt for field voles or mice, which come out at night and hide in long grass. They cannot see their prey, so have to use their extraordinary hearing to find it. Their ear openings are behind their eyes and one ear is higher than the other, so in flight one captures sound below, the other sound above – enabling them to work out exactly where their next meal is hiding.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here