Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Acorn (Eastern Screech Owl)

Acorn's Story

Species: Eastern Screech Owl (Red Phase)
Hatched: 1995

Acorn is a real crowd pleaser. Whenever he comes on stage the comment is usually, "Isn't he cute!" but don't let his looks fool you. For their size, Eastern Screech Owls are among the feircest predators in nature.

Acorn is a verteran performer and has participated in presentations at Sea World Ohio near Cleveland among other venues. He is currently a favorite of the thousands of children who meet him in schools and auditoriums during one of our Raptor Awareness or Fur Feathers and Scales programs.

Your adoption fee will help to feed, house and care for Acorn in the coming year, so that he can continue to educate and entertain the future generation.

To adopt Acorn, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $50 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: ACORN. 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

eastern screech owl
Otus asio

Description smallest eared owl in the eastern US; color ranges from grey to brown to reddish, but considered to be found in 2 color phases; gray found mostly in the north; red found mostly in the south; plumage is an excellent example of cryptic camouflage; color pattern of plumage resembles the bark of the trees so closely they are nearly invisible when still; identified by ear tufts and textured coloration

Sex: no visible differences between male and female

Age: up to 13 years

Length: 7-10”

Wingspan: 18-24”

Weight: 5-9 oz.

Habitat: wood lots, heavily wooded regions in rural areas, wooded strips of residential areas

Status: populations currently stable due to it’s ability to adapt to residential areas; often falls victim to vehicle collisions

Range: United States east of the Rocky Mountains and into northeastern Mexico

Behavior: nests in natural tree cavities, old woodpecker holes or man-made nest boxes; female lays 4-6 eggs that are incubated for 25-27 days; both parents feed the young; owlets leave the nest in about 4 weeks, but will be tended by the parents for another 5-6 weeks; can reproduce at 1 year of age

Diet: mainly insects, small mammals, birds, crayfish and earthworms

Vocalization: call is a long, high pitched, trilling call

√ have been known to visit backyard birdfeeders at night, where they hunt from a perched position then swoop down to catch the mice that come to feed on fallen seed

√ this bird is fond of bathing and has been known to visit backyard birdbaths at night

√ although small, this owl is fearless and has been known to dive at dogs, cats and even humans when defending it’s young

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

Return of the bats!

Every spring we see a sudden return of the only flying mammal in the world. In North America, bats are one of our most precious and misunderstood natural resources. Not only do they feed on mosquitos and other insects, the natural ecology of cave life depends on them to provide the nutrients needed to sustain life. Here in Missouri, bats congregate in the spring to form nursery colonies, producing offspring (one to four bats, depending on the species) in May or June. The young are fed milk until they are able to forage for themselves.

Destruction of habitat, pesticides, and disturbance has contributed to the alarming decline of bats in recent years. In addition, human fear and misunderstanding of bats has contributed to their decline. Bats are in fact carriers of rabies, but transmission of the disease is very rare. Their shy nature leads them to avoid human contact. Should a bat become trapped in your house, close off the room and call your local Department of Conservation. Someone will be sent to remove the bat safely.

The truth is that we depend on bats in ways that are crucial, not only to the environment, but to the economy. Respecting their habitat and educating others on the importance of these amazing and fascinating animals is the first step toward maintaining and recovering a healthy bat population worldwide.

Here are photographs of some of the many species of bats in Missouri, courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation. For more information on bats or to find out about bats in your area, write to Bat Conservation International, P.o. Box 162603, Austin, TX 78716, call 512/327-97 or go to www.batcon.org

Eastern Pipistrelle

Gray Bat

Indiana Bat

Little Brown Bat

Big Brown Bat

The information in this post was provided by the MDC. For more info and some very interesting bat facts, visit: http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2000/03/40.htm

Cherry Enrichment

Here is our African Pied Crow Cherry, working on getting meal worms out of a milk carton. Enrichment is crucial to the mental and physical health of captive animals, and all of our birds enjoy a new game.

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Timber (Eastern Screech Owl)

Timber's Story

Species: Eastern Screech Owl (Red Phase)
Hatched: Unknown

Timber arrived at the World Bird Sanctuary as a very young chick in 1999. He had suffered a wing injury when his tree was cut down. He was lovingly raised and trained by WBS staff members, who named him Timber because screech owls typically live in deeply wooded areas.

Even though he is very tiny (weight about 143 grams), Timber is fully grown with red plumage typical of the red phase of is species. In the summer of 1999, he began traveling with the World Bird Sanctuary's Education Department staff as a prime example of the impact that habitat destruction has on wildlife.

Your adoption donation will help to feed, house, train, and care for Timber so that he may continue to carry the message of the importance of preserving natural habitat to thousands of people each year. Adoptive parents who would like to visit Timber should call 636-861-3225 to make sure he is on site and to schedule a time for their special visit.

To adopt Timber, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $50 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: TIMBER. 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

eastern screech owl
Otus asio

Description smallest eared owl in the eastern US; color ranges from grey to brown to reddish, but considered to be found in 2 color phases; gray found mostly in the north; red found mostly in the south; plumage is an excellent example of cryptic camouflage; color pattern of plumage resembles the bark of the trees so closely they are nearly invisible when still; identified by ear tufts and textured coloration

Sex: no visible differences between male and female

Age: up to 13 years

Length: 7-10”

Wingspan: 18-24”

Weight: 5-9 oz.

Habitat: wood lots, heavily wooded regions in rural areas, wooded strips of residential areas

Status: populations currently stable due to it’s ability to adapt to residential areas; often falls victim to vehicle collisions

Range: United States east of the Rocky Mountains and into northeastern Mexico

Behavior: nests in natural tree cavities, old woodpecker holes or man-made nest boxes; female lays 4-6 eggs that are incubated for 25-27 days; both parents feed the young; owlets leave the nest in about 4 weeks, but will be tended by the parents for another 5-6 weeks; can reproduce at 1 year of age

Diet: mainly insects, small mammals, birds, crayfish and earthworms

Vocalization: call is a long, high pitched, trilling call

√ have been known to visit backyard birdfeeders at night, where they hunt from a perched position then swoop down to catch the mice that come to feed on fallen seed

√ this bird is fond of bathing and has been known to visit backyard birdbaths at night

√ although small, this owl is fearless and has been known to dive at dogs, cats and even humans when defending it’s young

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

The Zen of Timber

When Timber, our Eastern Screech Owl, isn't working for habitat conservation, he enjoys sitting outside, contemplating his place in the universe. For such a tiny creature, screech owls have a dignity that is all their own.

Mischief Enrichment

Among our responsibilities to the birds at WBS, enrichment is one of the most exciting and important. By exploiting a bird’s natural behavior and curiosity, enrichment provides not only physical activity, but also necessary mental activity. Besides which, it is fun to watch!

Last week I decided to try a new entertainment. I brought a clean and empty milk carton from home and, with Mischief the white napped raven carefully observing my every move, placed several live meal worms inside. As you can see from the video, the project was a hit. Mischief, whose monikers include “Destroyer of Ankle,” lost all interest in me as she wrestled the milk carton into submission.

In the absence of planned enrichment, birds as intelligent as Mischief take it where they find it. Mischief, for example, has been known to enjoy the excitement provoked by a sharp nip to the human ankle or shin. And there is no amusement park ride to compare with clinging to a person’s leg as it tries to escape your fiendish grasp. For obvious reasons, this is not a behavior that we want to encourage. Keeping an eye on the behavior of our birds allows us to “listen” to their wants and needs and to respond accordingly.

As you can see, enrichment makes both birds and people very happy campers.

Lewis flies again!

Here you see Lewis, everybody's favorite bald eagle, showing off his talent at Crown Valley Winery in Ste. Genevieve, MO.



Video courtesy of Cathy.

Education Spotlight: Straw Colored Fruit Bats!

Batty and Scar, our straw colored fruit bats, are two of the most delightful and popular creatures in our Education Department. Here you see them enjoying a nice breakfast of fresh fruit.



Video courtesy of Cathy Spahn.

Education Spotlight: Raptor Awareness

The World Bird Sanctuary's Raptor Awareness program features birds of prey including falcons, hawks, owls, and vultures. Not only will you see different species of raptors, you'll also learn a vulture's secret weapon and how to identify a bird of prey in the wild. Sit back and enjoy an up close and personal view as some of the birds soar right overhead! Be sure to ask about adding an eagle to your program. If you'd like to know more or schedule a program, please call our Education Department at 636-225-4390. Recommended for 3rd grade and higher.

Up close and personal with a Red-tailed Hawk

Learning why vultures are among our most important birds

A rare opportunity -- seeing a Peregrine Falcon, the fastest creature in the world, up close

Learning about the silent flight of our Eurasian Eagle Owl

A rarely seen creature, Twig, our Eastern Screech Owl

Learning about the amazing mouse catching abilities and silent flight of our seldom seen barn owls

Getting the opportunity to have their questions answered at the end of the program

Photographs and comments by Gay Schroer.

Hi Mischief!

There is little doubt that Mischief, our white naped raven, is appropriately named, but she is my favorite raven. Check out her sunny disposition:



If you are around St. Louis this summer and happen upon a large raven taking dollar bills from humans and placing them in a donation box, you are witnessing Mischief at work. She's good at what she does!

How Goblin grew...

As a follow-up to yesterday's Adopt a Goblin post, here are some pictures of the little guy growing up, courtesy of Gay Schroer.

Goblin at 33 days old. Look at the size of those feet!! At this age he was still being kept in an incubator most of the time to regulate his temperature.

Still 33 days, and Goblin spots his first eagle.

Goblin at 44 days old. He's learning to keep his balance, and has grown into those oversized feed. He's also beginning to get his "big boy" feathers.

Goblin at 55 days old. Here he is displaying a barn owl's natural hunting instinct as one of our Naturalists rustles a piece of paper inside the log.

Goblin at 55 days old displaying his beautiful new primary feathers.

Goblin at 65 days old. If you look very closely you may still spot some of his baby down feathers, but for all intents and purposes he now has his adult plumage and is almost indistinguishable from the adults of his species, although in the wild he would still have much to learn.

At 65 days Goblin has taken his place in the weathering area behind the Nature Center, and is ready to start his training as a member of the Office of Wildlife Learning. In the days to come he will learn to fly from trainer to trainer, just over the heads of audience members, as he does his part to educate the public about his species. When you visit the World Bird Sanctuary, be sure to look for Goblin.

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Goblin (Barn Owl)

Goblin's Story

Species: Barn Owl
Hatched: 2/23/08

Goblin was hatched at the World Bird Sanctuary's breeding facility in Valley Park, MO. At a very young age he was given into the care of our Office of Wildlife Learning (O.W.L.) staff where he has captured the hearts of young and old alike. He is now being trained to participate in our education programs, where he will act as a spokesbird for his species.

Barn Owls are still considered endangered in Missouri, and the birds in our Education Department are one of the most effective education messengers available for this beautiful species. Goblin will soon be teaching thousands of audience members about the usefulness of Barn Owls in controlling rodent populations. Did you know that one barn owl family (5-7 birds) can consume up to 25,000 rodents in a single year? It would be a tragedy to lose this beautiful and useful species due to habitat destruction and the overuse of pesticides.

Your adoption fee will help pay for his favorite food--mouse tidbits!

To adopt Goblin, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: GOBLIN. 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

common barn owl
Tyto alba

Description medium sized owl; long, sparsely feathered legs; rounded head without ear tufts; heart shaped facial disk has white feathers surrounded with a brownish edge; beak off white, long, and compressed; rounded wings and a short tail; back tawny brown, marked with black and white spots; underside grayish white with brown spots; one of the few owls with completely dark eyes; feet yellowish-white to grayish-brown; downy feathers and fringed wing feathers give silent flight; asymmetrical ear location—one ear higher on one side of the head than the other

Sex: both sexes similar in size and color; females usually larger, heavier, darker in color than males; females and juveniles generally more densely spotted; sexually mature at 1 year; mate for life

Age: high mortality in the first year; average age in the wild is 2 years; few adults live beyond 3-4 years; oldest recorded wild barn owl in North America was 15 years, 5 months; captive birds have a much longer lifespan

Length: 14-20” Wingspan: 3.5’ Weight: 8-21 oz.

Habitat: prefers open land, prairies, grasslands and agricultural area for hunting; nest in natural hollows in trees, cliffs, caves, nestboxes, barns and other structures

Status: legal status across the entire US as a whole is “Not Endangered”; however, legal status in many states, including Missouri, is “Endangered”; causes of mortality are: loss of nesting sites, grasslands and pastures; great horned owl predation; vehicle collisions; shooting; poisons used to kill rodents which the owls eat; other factors which affect the rodent population

Range: every continent except Antarctica

Behavior: breeding season March through October; mating and courtship involve much chasing and screaming; nest is a scrape lined with pellets and debris; not extremely territorial; may nest within ½ mile of other pairs; usually 4-6 solid white eggs, sometimes more; one egg laid every 2-3 days, but incubating starts immediately hence there may be as much as two to three weeks difference in age of chicks in same brood; generally 3-4 young survive; incubation period 29-45 days; young fledge at 7-10 weeks, but do not leave the area until 3-5 months old; may lay a second clutch of eggs when young start to leave the area; usually hunt from a perch; also known to fly low over open fields in a quartering flight pattern to locate small rodents in their runs
Diet: majority of prey is small rodents , but will also hunt birds, fish, reptiles and insects

Vocalization: does not hoot; communicates with grunts, raspy hisses and drawn out hissing screams; male’s courtship call is a shrill repetitive twittering; adults returning to a nest give a low, frog-like croak; when disturbed at the roost or nest it makes hissing and rasping noises along with snapping sounds known as bill snapping


INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BARN OWLS


√ A barn owl family (5-7 birds) can consume 25,000 rodents a year; one pair may take as many as 1,000 mice during the nesting season alone to feed their brood

√ 200 pellets from a pair of barn owls roosting above the Smithsonian Institute Building contained 444 skulls, including 225 meadow mice, 179 house mice, 20 rats, and 20 shrews—all caught in the city

√ Can catch prey by hearing alone in total darkness due to asymmetrical location of the ears which allows them to triangulate sound

√ Because barn owls tend to live in damp areas, a fungus grows on their feathers, giving them a phosphorescent glow at night—hence the often used name “ghost owl”

√ Common nicknames: ghost owl, monkey faced owl, white owl, night owl, Sweetheart Owl, church owl,

√ Throughout history, barn owls have been associated with omens, witchcraft, and death; they were used as symbols, in myths and as part of superstitious potions

√ The female’s breast spots are believed to be a stimulus to the male, indicating the quality of the female. When a female’s spots were experimentally removed, the male fed the nestlings at a lower rate than if the spots were left alone

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

We never get tired of the eagle owls...

Further adventures with the tennis ball (with a little nudge from me).



Eurasian eagle owls are the largest owls in the world. They pose a significant threat to the dreaded tennis ball and work ceaselessly to rid the office of this round yellow pest. That is, when they aren't napping or eating (or napping).

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Sirrocco (Peregrine Falcon)

Sirrocco's Story

Species: Peregrine Falcon
Hatched: Unknown

Sirrocco is a captive bred bird who came to us from another facility. In 1996, he was working at Scott Air Force Base as part of the Bird Air Strike Hazard program (B.A.S.H.). This program saves many lives every year by using falcons to deter other birds from flying in the vicinity of airfields, thereby preventing midair plane/bird collisions.

That year, while chasing a dove that flew toward a chain link fence, he was unable to veer off in time and collided with the fence, breaking both wingtips. At first it was thought that he would never fly again. However, after his wings healed one of our dedicated staff membersactually taught him to fly again, and he joined the BASH group at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Unfortunately, it soon became clear tht he would never be able to manuever well enough to resume his air force career. He was returned to WBS to join our office of Wildlife Learning and began a new career as an education bird. When he's not traveling throughout the country with our education staff as an ambassador for his species, he can be found in the weathering area behind the Visitor Information Center at WBS headquarters in Valley Park, Missouri.

To adopt Sirrocco, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: SIRROCCO. 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.

Eagle owl chicks...up to no good!

Do you ever get the uncanny feeling that you are being watched?



And when they aren't spying on you, they are rifling through your personal items!

Peregrine banding

On May 13th 2008, we went to Washington University Medical School, in St. Louis, MO, to band four peregrine chicks. There were three males and one female. We put on an ID band and a US Fish and Wildlife service band. After we were done, we put them back with their parents. They looked great. Banding helps keep track of bird movements and mortality.

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Osiris (Egyptian Vulture)

Osiris's Story

Species: Egyptian Vulture
Hatched: 1998

Osiris is the only Egyptian Vulture to be hatched by the World Bird Sanctuary. She was named after one of the oldest Egyptian gods, who was believed to be the god of life, death, and fertility.

Osiris is a real trooper with a long list of credits. She has appeared at the Milwaukee County Zoo, Grants Farm, Roger Williams Zoo in Rhode Island, the Boston Zoo, WBS Office of Wildlife Learning here in Valley Park, the Busch Gardens show in Virginia as their "Halloween Bird," and most recently, the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

Her trainers tell us that Osiris is VERY SMART, so smart, in fact, that they sometimes have to be very inventive to keep one step ahead of her when teaching a new behavior. They tell us that she is a great flyer, has a good memory, learns quickly, and likes to chew on her leash.

In our educational programs, Osiris demonstrates an amazing behavior developed by Egyptian vultures in the wild. They use tools! Osiris demonstrates this remarkable accomplishment by picking up stones on stage and dropping them on an ostrich egg to crack it. How her species originally developed this behavior is uncertain, but the use of tools by any animal is considered a landmark accomplishment.

During the off season, Osiris resides in the Education Training Center at the World Bird Sanctuary headquarters in Valley Park, MO. Because she does not live in an area normally open to the public and performs at zoo shows during the summer, adoptive parents will need to call 636-861-3225 to schedule a visit with her.

To adopt Osiris, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: OSIRIS. 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

Egyptian vulture
Neophron percnopterus

Description smallest of all the European vultures; adult plumage white with some black feathers in the wings and tail; juvenile plumage is dark brown, gradually turning white by age five; beak long and slender with a blackish tip; facial skin yellow, turning orange during breeding and nesting seasons

Sex: plumage identical; female somewhat larger than male

Age: 37 years

Length: 33”

Wingspan: 5.5’

Weight: 4.5 lbs.

Habitat: plains, wetlands, uplands and mountains

Status: Endangered; Indian population has crashed due to use of NSAID Diclofenac in veterinary medicine, which enters the food chain of the species

Range: Southern Europe, North Africa, Western and Southern Asia

Behavior: Breeding display consists of flying high into the air and diving down, grasping claws on the way: pairs mate for life; nesting sites are rocky ledges and cliffs, preferring well sheltered areas with many cavities as they are colonial nesters; nest, consists of branches and sticks lined with garbage and food remains; 1-3 white eggs with dark brown spots laid between March and April; incubation is 42 days; young fledge at around 90 days

Diet: mainly carrion; also small mammals, insects, rotting vegetation and eggs; only vulture species to use tools; has learned to break ostrich eggs by picking up and flinging rocks and stones in the egg’s general direction until the egg cracks, then the bird enlarges the hole with it’s beak to get to the contents

Vocalization: generally silent

√ First recorded bird ever to be protected by law; one Pharoah felt so strongly that their job as a natural cleaner was so important he declared killing the bird was punishable by death. The vulture was always seen on the front of the pharaoh’s crown.

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

An Egyptian in Boston...

Meet Osiris, our Egyptian Vulture. Osiris was named for the Egyptian god of death and rebirth. Egyptian vultures are the first known protected species in human history. The ancient Egyptians venerated these beautiful birds and made it a crime to kill them.

In the wild, this small vulture can't compete with most other vultures at a carcass. They get a quick bite by being first to arrive at a carcass, but then other birds get most of the meat. Instead they often raid breeding colonies to steal chicks and eggs. They can carry eggs in their beaks and then use rocks to break them open. They are native to most of Africa and southern Europe.


As you can see in these photos, Osiris has perfected the egg-breaking craft of her species and can be seen in action this summer in our programs at the Stone Zoo in Boston. If you are in the area, come on by and see this amazing bird!

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Tobin (European Barn Owl)

Tobin's Story

Species: European Barn Owl
Hatched: 2003

Tobin was bred at the World Bird Sanctuary and is believed to be male. He was integrated into the education department in 2003. He has been hand raised by our staff to make him comfortable with humans.

Tobin was the first European Barn Owl flown by the World Bird Sanctuary. He was soon flying in programs. At first he was easily distracted due to age and inexperience. However, today he is a seasoned performer who is featured at many of our special events and programs.

Tobin is very popular with audiences and even our seasoned staff refers to him as "a cutie." However, he does have "attitude" when necessary.

Your donation will help to fund the cost of training, housing, and caring for this popular member of our Education Department, as well as supplying him with his favorite food: mouse tidbits!

To adopt Tobin, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: TOBIN. 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

European barn owl
Tyto alba alba

Description medium sized owl, smaller and lighter in color than American cousin; long, sparsely feathered legs; rounded head without ear tufts; heart shaped facial disk has white feathers surrounded with a brownish edge; beak off white, long, and compressed; rounded wings and a short tail; back tawny brown, marked with black and white spots; underside grayish white with brown spots; one of the few owls with completely dark eyes; feet yellowish-white to grayish-brown; downy feathers and fringed wing feathers give silent flight; asymmetrical ear location—one ear higher on one side of the head than the other which allows them to triangulate sound for hunting

Sex: both sexes similar in size and color, with females tending to be larger, heavier, and darker in color than males; females and juveniles generally more densely spotted; sexually mature at 1 year; mate for life

Age: high mortality rate in the first year; average age of a wild barn owl is 2 years; few adults live beyond 3-4 years; captive birds have a much longer lifespan

Length: 16” Wingspan: 2.5’ Weight: 9-13 oz.

Habitat: prefers open land, prairies, grasslands and agricultural area for hunting; nest in natural hollows in trees, cliffs, caves, nestboxes, barns and other structures

Status: European Barn Owl populations have been declining severely in much of their range. Due to loss of nesting habitat, only about 2,000 pairs remain in the wild in Britain

Range: British Isles, western France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and countries bordering the Mediterranean

Behavior: breeding season is March through October; mating and courtship involve a great deal of chasing and screaming; nest is a scrape lined with pellets and debris; not extremely territorial; can nest within ½ mile of other pairs; 4-6 solid white eggs (occasionally as many as 12); female lays one egg every 2-3 days, but starts incubating immediately hence there may be as much as two to three weeks difference in the age of chicks in the same brood; generally 3-4 young survive; incubation period 29-45 days; young fledge at 7-10 weeks, but do not leave the area until 3-5 months old; breeding pair may lay a second clutch of eggs when the young start to leave the area; in addition to hunting from a perch they are also known to fly low over open fields in a quartering flight pattern to locate small rodents in their runs
Diet: majority of prey is small rodents , but will also hunt birds, fish, reptiles and insects

Vocalization: does not hoot; communicates with grunts, raspy hisses and drawn out hissing screams; male’s courtship call is a shrill repetitive twittering; adults returning to a nest give a low, frog-like croak; when disturbed at the roost or nest it makes hissing and rasping noises along with snapping sounds known as bill snapping

√ Common nicknames: ghost owl, monkey faced owl, white owl, night owl, Sweetheart Owl, church owl

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Dawn (American Barn Owl)

Dawn's Story

Species: Barn Owl
Hatched: 2001

Dawn, a female barn owl, was hatched at the World Bird Sanctuary's breeding facility. She was carefully raised and trained by our handlers to be one of our education birds. She has worked at our Busch Gardens Tampa programs, and is currently traveling with our Education Department staff to teach audiences about the role Barn Owls play in the environment.

Dawn is a real trouper. Every year she amazes thousands of audience members by demonstrating the barn owl's silent flight. Your adoption fee will help to keep Dawn traveling with her message of conservation, particularly for those children who otherwise would never have the opportunity to see this beautiful creature of the night.

To adopt Dawn, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: DAWN. 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

common barn owl
Tyto alba

Description: medium sized owl; long, sparsely feathered legs; rounded head without ear tufts; heart shaped facial disk has white feathers surrounded with a brownish edge; beak off white, long, and compressed; rounded wings and a short tail; back tawny brown, marked with black and white spots; underside grayish white with brown spots; one of the few owls with completely dark eyes; feet yellowish-white to grayish-brown; downy feathers and fringed wing feathers give silent flight; asymmetrical ear location—one ear higher on one side of the head than the other

Sex: both sexes similar in size and color; females usually larger, heavier, darker in color than males; females and juveniles generally more densely spotted; sexually mature at 1 year; mate for life

Age: high mortality in the first year; average age in the wild is 2 years; few adults live beyond 3-4 years; oldest recorded wild barn owl in North America was 11 years, 6 months; captive birds have a much longer lifespan

Length: 14-20” Wingspan: 3.5’ Weight: 8-21 oz.

Habitat: prefers open land, prairies, grasslands and agricultural area for hunting; nest in natural hollows in trees, cliffs, caves, nestboxes, barns and other structures

Status: legal status across the entire US as a whole is “Not Endangered”; however, legal status in many states, including Missouri, is “Endangered”; causes of mortality are: loss of nesting sites, grasslands and pastures; great horned owl predation; vehicle collisions; shooting; poisons used to kill rodents which the owls eat; other factors which affect the rodent population

Range: every continent except Antarctica

Behavior: breeding season March through October; mating and courtship involve much chasing and screaming; nest is a scrape lined with pellets and debris; not extremely territorial; may nest within ½ mile of other pairs; usually 4-6 solid white eggs, sometimes more; one egg laid every 2-3 days, but incubating starts immediately hence there may be as much as two to three weeks difference in age of chicks in same brood; generally 3-4 young survive; incubation period 29-45 days; young fledge at 7-10 weeks, but do not leave the area until 3-5 months old; may lay a second clutch of eggs when young start to leave the area; usually hunt from a perch; also known to fly low over open fields in a quartering flight pattern to locate small rodents in their runs

Diet: majority of prey is small rodents , but will also hunt birds, fish, reptiles and insects

Vocalization: does not hoot; communicates with grunts, raspy hisses and drawn out hissing screams; male’s courtship call is a shrill repetitive twittering; adults returning to a nest give a low, frog-like croak; when disturbed at the roost or nest it makes hissing and rasping noises along with snapping sounds known as bill snapping

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BARN OWLS

√ A barn owl family (5-7 birds) can consume 25,000 rodents a year; one pair may take as many as 1,000 mice during the nesting season alone to feed their brood

√ 200 pellets from a pair of barn owls roosting above the Smithsonian Institute Building contained 444 skulls, including 225 meadow mice, 179 house mice, 20 rats, and 20 shrews—all caught in the city

√ Can catch prey by hearing alone in total darkness due to asymmetrical location of the ears which allows them to triangulate sound

√ Because barn owls tend to live in damp areas, a fungus grows on their feathers, giving them a phosphorescent glow at night—hence the often used name “ghost owl”

√ Common nicknames: ghost owl, monkey faced owl, white owl, night owl, Sweetheart Owl, church owl,

√ Throughout history, barn owls have been associated with omens, witchcraft, and death; they were used as symbols, in myths and as part of superstitious potions

√ The female’s breast spots are believed to be a stimulus to the male, indicating the quality of the female. When a female’s spots were experimentally removed, the male fed the nestlings at a lower rate than if the spots were left alone.

Barn owl release...

Hey remember when these guys were just babies in the nest with Mom?



Well, they are all grown up and ready to leave the nest (and the people) for a life in the wild. We took three of them to a barn in southern Missouri and as you can see, released them from captivity. We will go back in a week and open the loft so that they can learn to hunt while still being fed by the Priday family, and from there they will venture out into the world. Barn owls are rare in the midwest and our hopes are high that these birds will thrive.

Lewis the Bald Eagle stuns fans with his fantastic flight!

Sponsored by Schnucks Markets and with the St. Louis Cardinals, the World Bird Sanctuary has had the privilege of flying Lewis, a 6 year old bald eagle, at both old and new Busch Stadiums. This video is from opening day, 2008 and as you can see, Lewis does excellent work. So do Jen and Roger his human handlers! Lewis is a favorite at Cards games and never fails to thrill the fans.

Thank you to Jamie and Boyd of Longpoint Productions for their excellent video work.

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Bogart (Eurasian Eagle Owl)

Bogart's Story

Species: Eurasian Eagle Owl
Hatched: 1997

Bogart is assumed to be a male due to his size and the deep timbre of his "hoot." Since there are no visible differences between the sexes other than size, only egg laying, DNA testing, or surgical sexing would confirm or disprove this supposition.

Bogart is a great favorite with audiences. His five foot wingspan makes him a most impressive sight when he flies over the heads of audience members during a Raptor Awareness program.

Despite his imposing appearance, Bogart is considered a sweetheart by his handlers. He loves to dig nesting holes in his mew, and hopes to find the right human for his potential mate. For more on eagle owl love, see our Monday Morning Haiku post from March 17th. Bogart is also a very cute bather!

To adopt Bogart, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $150 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: BOGART. 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

Eurasian eagle owl
Bubo Bubo

Description similar to the great horned owl, but much larger; prominent ear tufts are usually laid back; streaked breast, mottled brownish feathers; some have orangish-brown feathers on the face, underparts, wings, and back; orange-yellow or deep fiery orange eyes; adults and juveniles similar in appearance

Sex: coloration the same for both sexes; females larger than males; call of the female is slightly higher pitched than the male’s

Age: once past first year, into the 20’s in the wild; recorded into their 60’s in captivity

Length: 24-30”

Wingspan: 5-7’

Weight: 3,5-9 lbs.

Habitat: rocky outcrops and coniferous forests; hunt in open plains areas; warm deserts; can be found in taiga, farmlands, steppes, semi-arid areas, grasslands

Status: never common; can be considered rare and locally endangered; have been shot and trapped extensively; affected by deforestation

Range: northern Europe through Asia and into northern Africa

Behavior: nests are shallow depressions scratched out on rock ledges or in caves; lay 1-4 eggs at 3-day intervals from the end of February to the end of April, depending on food supply; the female does the majority of the incubating for 31-36 days, while the male hunts; the chicks fledge at 7-8 weeks, but are cared for by the parents for 20-24 weeks; if the next is on the ground they may fledge earlier; swoop down on prey when hunting; can catch prey from the air or the ground, or may be seen plunging into water

Diet: medium sized mammals and birds, like opossums, hares, foxes, ducks, quail, and pheasant; also eat insects and small rodents; roe deer fawns; coastal residents may feed mainly on ducks and seabirds

Vocalization: long, booming “oo-hoooh”; females sometimes make a coarse “kraah” sound during mating season; chicks make the “kraah” sound as well; when threatened they may bark and growl

√ Eurasian eagle owls are the largest owls in the world and have no real predators except electrocution, collision with traffic and shooting

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

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Xena (Eurasian Eagle Owl)

Xena's Story

Species: Eurasian Eagle Owl
Hatched: 3/18/99

Xena, whose parents are K.C. and Sailor, was hatched at the World Bird Sanctuary's Breeding Facility in Valley Park, Missouri. She was carefully raised and trained by our staff to be part of our Education Department, whose goal is to educate people about the owl species of the world and what an amazing part of the environment they are!

Xena's travels have taken her to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Grants Farm, where she spent the summer of 2000, and hundreds of towns throughout the midwest. Her most amazing journey was to California, where she appeared with Executive Director Walter Crawford and Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, on the Rainbird float in the 2002 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Xena's majestic appearance and calm nature have made her the perfect feature for our annual "Christmas is for the Birds" photo op for the past four years. She sits calmly on our Woodland Santa's glove for photos with children of all ages during this special event.

To adopt Xena, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $150 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: XENA. 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

Eurasian eagle owl
Bubo Bubo

Description similar to the great horned owl, but much larger; prominent ear tufts are usually laid back; streaked breast, mottled brownish feathers; some have orangish-brown feathers on the face, underparts, wings, and back; orange-yellow or deep fiery orange eyes; adults and juveniles similar in appearance

Sex: coloration the same for both sexes; females larger than males; call of the female is slightly higher pitched than the male’s

Age: once past first year, into the 20’s in the wild; recorded into their 60’s in captivity

Length: 24-30”

Wingspan: 5-7’

Weight: 3,5-9 lbs.

Habitat: rocky outcrops and coniferous forests; hunt in open plains areas; warm deserts; can be found in taiga, farmlands, steppes, semi-arid areas, grasslands

Status: never common; can be considered rare and locally endangered; have been shot and trapped extensively; affected by deforestation

Range: northern Europe through Asia and into northern Africa

Behavior: nests are shallow depressions scratched out on rock ledges or in caves; lay 1-4 eggs at 3-day intervals from the end of February to the end of April, depending on food supply; the female does the majority of the incubating for 31-36 days, while the male hunts; the chicks fledge at 7-8 weeks, but are cared for by the parents for 20-24 weeks; if the next is on the ground they may fledge earlier; swoop down on prey when hunting; can catch prey from the air or the ground, or may be seen plunging into water

Diet: medium sized mammals and birds, like opossums, hares, foxes, ducks, quail, and pheasant; also eat insects and small rodents; roe deer fawns; coastal residents may feed mainly on ducks and seabirds

Vocalization: long, booming “oo-hoooh”; females sometimes make a coarse “kraah” sound during mating season; chicks make the “kraah” sound as well; when threatened they may bark and growl

√ Eurasian eagle owls are the largest owls in the world and have no real predators except electrocution, collision with traffic and shooting

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

Yet another Eurasian eagle owl

Here's one of our eagle owl chick examining a tennis ball. He may seem underwhelmed, but tennis balls are a favorite toy. They "hunt" them all over the office.

Showbiz takes practice...

Here you see Hugnin, one of our white naped ravens, working on her act for the Boston show this summer. Hugnin and company have arrived in Boston and will begin regular performances on May 24th at the Stone Zoo. Unlike many performers, Hugnin will work for dog food and praise!

Adopt A Bird spotlight: Frazzle (Eastern Screech Owl)

Frazzle's Story

Species: Eastern Screech Owl
Hatched: Spring 2006

Frazzle was a half grown bird who was found locally. He was brought to the World Bird Sanctuary when it was noted that he had suffered severe eye damage. Upon examination it was found that the eye was severely infected and swollen. After much soul searching it was decided that the only way to save this bird was to remove the eye. This little bird would have died in the wild.

Frazzle is now a happy and healthy member of our Education Department. He resides in our Visitor Information Center where he is extremely popular--especially with the children. He is so popular, in fact, that one child submitted a drawing of a one-eyed bird for a "my favorite bird" drawing contest.

His handlers tell us that Frazzle is very calm and laid back. Who wouldn't be if they were well fed, cared for, and admired on a daily basis?

To adopt Frazzle, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $75 and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: FRAZZLE. 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

eastern screech owl
Otus asio

Description smallest eared owl in the eastern US; color ranges from grey to brown to reddish, but considered to be found in 2 color phases; gray found mostly in the north; red found mostly in the south; plumage is an excellent example of cryptic camouflage; color pattern of plumage resembles the bark of the trees so closely they are nearly invisible when still; identified by ear tufts and textured coloration

Sex: no visible differences between male and female

Age: up to 13 years

Length: 7-10”

Wingspan: 18-24”

Weight: 5-9 oz.

Habitat: wood lots, heavily wooded regions in rural areas, wooded strips of residential areas

Status: populations currently stable due to it’s ability to adapt to residential areas; often falls victim to vehicle collisions

Range: United States east of the Rocky Mountains and into northeastern Mexico

Behavior: nests in natural tree cavities, old woodpecker holes or man-made nest boxes; female lays 4-6 eggs that are incubated for 25-27 days; both parents feed the young; owlets leave the nest in about 4 weeks, but will be tended by the parents for another 5-6 weeks; can reproduce at 1 year of age

Diet: mainly insects, small mammals, birds, crayfish and earthworms

Vocalization: call is a long, high pitched, trilling call

√ have been known to visit backyard birdfeeders at night, where they hunt from a perched position then swoop down to catch the mice that come to feed on fallen seed

√ this bird is fond of bathing and has been known to visit backyard birdbaths at night

√ although small, this owl is fearless and has been known to dive at dogs, cats and even humans when defending it’s young.

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

Boston is the place to be...

If you are in or around the Stone Zoo this summer, I am jealous! Niles, our Southern Ground Hornbill, is performing in our programs all summer long. I'll spend the summer pining away, but you can go to Boston and be dazzled by his charm. Lucky, lucky you!

Eagle owl medley

Behold the cuteness of the Eurasian eagle owl chicks! In this video you can see them doing what they do best: napping. They like to flop down on their bellies and stretch their legs out behind them. Of all the birds in the world, eagle owls have my favorite feet.