Barn Owls & How They Grow

Do you remember the story of Jack in the Beanstalk?  This old fairy tale is brought to mind every time I witness the incredible growth rate of birds, as witnessed by these photos of some of our baby barn owls.

Our first photo shows two of our hatchlings at the age of 14 days.  At this stage they don't much resemble the beautiful creature they will eventually become.

This next photo is our pair at 21 days old.  They are just beginning to learn to balance, and their faces are beginning to show the characteristic heart shape for which their species is known.

At 29 days of age this basketful of babies is beginning to show more awareness of their surroundings, and is beginning to move about a bit.

At 33 days they are definitely more aware of their surroundings, especially if they spot their caretaker--who they perceive as a source of food!

At 42 days they are beginning to sprout their "big boy (or girl)" feathers, and are beginning to take on more of the appearance of a "real" barn owl.

At 49 days they are more fully feathered, but still have quite a bit of their baby down feathers.  They are now able to perch on branches and stumps (if a bit precariously), and are beginning to show quite a bit of curiosity about their surroundings.

At 63 days our young barn owl is almost indistinguishable from the adults of it's species, although he still has quite a lot to learn.

To learn more about these fascinating creatures and to experience a firsthand demonstration of their soundless flight, join us for one of our Owl Prowls.

For more information and to make reservations for an Owl Prowl, call 636-225-4390, Ext. 0.

IT'S AN EXPERIENCE YOU WON'T FORGET!!

Foster the kookaburra is back for a laugh

Here's another little video of Foster, who has not stopped laughing since the last time you saw him:

This I Believe

Following is an essay written by Junior Volunteer, Matt Levin, for his Honors English class.  Matt will be 16 this month.    He attends Northeast Middle School in the Parkway district.  He started volunteering for the World Bird Sanctuary in 2008, and has become a valued member of our team.

Junior Volunteer, Matt Levin, holding Waylon, a Blue & Gold Macaw

"This I Believe Essay"

           "I believe in the basic human need to belong.  This need to belong can  be as simple as needing friends so that you feel that you have a place in the world, or, for me, it could be as complex as continuing to volunteer at the World Bird Sanctuary.  For me, the need to belong is huge, since I don’t have much of a life outside of school, let alone a social life.

          "When I stopped to think about it, it seemed pretty obvious what I could do to fix that problem.  I could volunteer at the World Bird Sanctuary!  Not only has the World Bird Sanctuary given me a place in the world, but it also makes me feel like, to quote a Linkin Park song,” I’m somewhere I belong”.  Although I still don’t have much of a life outside of that, when I’m volunteering at the World Bird Sanctuary, I feel like I belong because all of the staff is really friendly and easy to get along with.  Also, it’s easy to see that, when I leave to go back home, that I’ve accomplished something, because I sign off for the things that I did on a chore sheet and then I can see just how helpful I was.

"Another reason why I feel like I belong at the World Bird Sanctuary is that whenever I get something done, whichever staff members are there always thank me and let me know that they recognize and appreciate the fact that I did something.  This is also a part of needing to belong--having work that you did, and could have worked hard on-- recognized in a way that you know it’s recognized.  Also, according to some of the staff members, when I started volunteering, there were only a few junior volunteers.  (A junior volunteer is someone who volunteers at the World Bird Sanctuary who is under the age of 17.  After 17, you’re just a volunteer.)  Now, however, there are a lot more than just me and around one other person.  I feel so strongly that I belong at the World Bird Sanctuary, that if I get the chance, I’m going to work there.

          "I believe in the basic need to belong and to have your work recognized in a way that you notice.  The World Bird Sanctuary helps me accomplish both of these things."

Finally! Answers to Whoo's Who #2

DID YOU THINK WE'D FORGOTTEN YOU?

After a long hiatus due to the Holidays, and a few technical problems, we're finally back with the answers to our Whoo's Who Quiz #2.  Don't feel bad if you couldn't identify the species to which these little guys belong.  They don't look much like the finished product--the adults.

The two fuzzy little blondes with the Jimmy Durante schnozzes in our first photo are 21 day old Common Barn Owls.  Check back later this week to see photos of the amazing transformation these little guys undergo on their way to adulthood.

The little gray bundles of fluff in the basket (our second photo) are two baby barred owls.  This is one of the commonest Missouri Owls, and one you may be likely to hear if you take part in one of our Owl Prowls.

The next photo of the two little fluff balls with the very impressive beaks (even at this age) is one of the most impressive owls you may ever see.  These are 11 day old Eurasian Eagle Owl babies--the largest owl species in the world!  Check back soon to see photos of their fantastic  growth rate.

And finally--we have the owl made famous in the Harry Potter books and movies--the Tawny Owl.  This is the most common owl species in Great Britain, but I'm not sure anyone would recognize it from this photo of a 7 day old hatchling!  Again, check back to see this little one's amazing transformation!

To meet some of these fascinating creatures in person, join us for one of our eight remaining Owl Prowls.  These fun and fascinating programs end on February 28th, so there's not much time left!

Owl Prowls begin at 7:00 pm on selected weekends and last approximately 1-1/2 hour.  Remember to dress for the weather as part of the program is held outside on our trails where we try to "hoot up" our local owls.

Cost is $9.00 for adults and $7.00 for children

FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 636-225-4390, Ext. 0

 

Chikara the trumpeter hornbill shows her stuff

In this video, Chikara, one of our trumpeter hornbills, is training for our education programs. She and her brother Astar fly between trainers while catching a grape in mid-air.

We call it practice for a reason!

Cayenne and Linus, our green winged Macaws, are always spot on when they perform in shows, thanks to Susan our patient and talented training specialist.

Chicken A La King (Vulture)

First, have your humans remove the feathers. Next, take the chicken from the bowl and roll it in your shavings. Get a good coating on there for extra crunchy goodness. Now stand on the chicken with both feet. Proceed to eat.



Many thanks to Baton Rouge, our resident gourmet, for sharing his grandma’s recipe!

Another cool thing about Foster the kookaburra...

He's inflatable! Yet dignified.

Beak of the Week!

Jane, you were right again! Last week's very interesting beak was a loggerhead shrike! We have one named Vlad in our visitor center, so drop by and meet him if you can.

This week's beak is HUGE! Not only is the beak big, but the attached bird has a more than 10 foot wingspan:

Here you see the "turkey toes" typical of its kind:

These amazing eyes can spot dinner from thousands (yes thousands!) of feet in the air:


Good luck guessers! I'll see you next week.

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Millennium (Peregrine Falcon)

Millennium's Story

Species: Peregrine Falcon
Hatched: Spring 2008

Millennium came to us from a falconer who breeds and trains birds for those individuals who pursue the ancient sport of falconry. He noticed that Millennium seemed to have difficulty locating her food, and once she left her perch she did not return to it as a bird normally would. After careful observation, he came to the conclusion that she is so vision impaired as to be nearly blind. Since she would be useless as a falconry bird, he searched for an organization that could use her as an education bird. As it happened, we were in need of a peregrine falcon for our education department. One of our staff members drove to Iowa to pick her up.

Millennium is a striking bird. She is quite large, which is why we refer to her as "she." Females are usually larger than males. She has a beautiful dark brown coloring. We know that she will lose the brown coloration as she matures, however, some birds are darker than others, so she may prove to be one of the darker gray individuals of her species.  Only time will tell. For the present, she is easy to distinguish from the other peregrines in the weathering area. As far as her eyesight is concerned, she seems to do quite well, even though we believe she only sees shadows and movement.

To adopt Millennium, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: MILLENNIUM. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents receive:

• A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• Certificate of Adoption
• Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• Sponsorship Card
• One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• Life History and Natural History of the bird
• 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• Discounts on WBS Special Events
• WBS Decal

Natural History

peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus

Description: large falcon; short tail; pointed wing tips; slate-gray above; black helmet on head; whitish neck; buff beneath; lightly barred breast; wing tips almost reach tail tip when perched; regional variations exist (very dark in the northwest to pale in the north

Sex: females have more brown than males

Age: juveniles are a dark buff color with heavy streaking underneath

Length: 16-20”

Wingspan: 3-3.7’

Weight: 1.6 lbs.

Habitat: open country, cliffs, cities

Status: once found across all of North America until pesticides such as DDT eliminated eastern populations, almost to extinction; pesticide banning and captive-breeding programs have helped with their recovery; seen year-round in the US, but uncommon to rare in the winter

Behavior: don’t build nests; lay 2-4 reddish, darker flecked eggs in cliff hollows; bare rocky outcrops, bridges or tall building ledges; 28 day incubation period by both parents; chicks leave the nest at 5-6 weeks; hunts by flying very fast and making dramatic swoops to catch prey in midair

Diet: small birds, large insects, small mammals

Vocalization: rapid “kek kek kek kek”, repeated “we chew” at nest

√ World Bird Sanctuary’s reintroduction program put over 300 peregrines back into Missouri’s wild

√ Peregrines are the fastest animals on earth and have been clocked diving at 287 mph

√ Three subspecies exist: pacific (Peale’s), tundra and the interior west

Adopt A Bird profiles are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Whoo's Who - #2

Were you successful in identifying the species of owl in last week's "Whooo's Who?"  How about the calls that each species issues?  If you weren't able to identify them, it's not too late.  Just check below in last week's posts for the answers.

Have you figured out what all that hooting, hissing, screeching and trilling is all about?  
It's the equivalent of dating--and here are the results!  See if you can identify to which species our babies belong. 

 I'll start you out with a hint.  The first photo in our lineup is a basketful of Barn Owls.  (More on these guys later.) The rest are for you to have fun with!  Don't be shy--jump in there and give us your guesses!  Look for the answers next week.

For more interesting and fascinating facts about owls, join us for one of our Owl Prowl programs being presented now through the end of February.  Registration is required, so don't wait too long to reserve a spot in one of these popular events.  It's a nighttime adventure the whole family will enjoy.  

 

Owl Prowls last approximately 1-1/2 hour and begin at 7:00 p.m.  Remember to dress for the weather as part of the program is held outside on our trails while we try to "hoot up" our local owls.

Cost is $9.00 for adults and $7.00 for children.  

For reservations call:  636-225-4390

A guy walks into a bar with a kookaburra on his head...

Foster the kookaburra is one of my favorite birds to hang with. He’s good looking, has nice eyes, and always laughs at my jokes. I crack him up.

Wintering with the storks

Like many of our birds, Otis the Abdim Stork spends the coldest months of winter inside, enjoying climate control and free fish delivered to his room.

Here you see Otis being a stork. He has beautiful colors, doesn't he?

The Abdim is sometimes referred to as the white-bellied stork. It is the smallest of the stork family and is native to parts of Africa.

Beak of the Week!

Victoria from Colorado you've guessed another beak! Last week's bird was a red-tailed hawk. Great guessing!

Now here's an altogether different beak, belonging to the order Passeriformes. But this is no ordinary song bird. This is a predatory song bird. The owner of this beak impales its food on thorns or barbed wire fences:

But these feet look so dainty and innocent!

I wonder who can guess the identity of this terrifyingly cute little carnivore. Good luck!