Rehabilitated owl moves into Sundance

Article Date: 2009-01-24   Source: http://www.heraldextra.com   Comments: 0

By Caleb Warnock

Sundance, New Mexico, U.S.A. - Sundance has a new fine-feathered resident today, a great-horned owl who goes by Henry.
Sundance held its first night owling event of 2009 on Friday night, with about 20 people paying $30 apiece for the privilege of meeting three live owls before trekking into the night woods on snowshoes for an hour with a guide to listen for the hoots of wild owls.

Friday was special because it was the first time owlers got to see the release of a rehabilitated owl at Sundance's night owling event. Henry was hit by a car about three months ago, and found by a passerby.

Since that day, Henry has been cared for by Utah Valley's only animal rehabilitation center, Great Basin Wildlife Rescue, based in Springville.

Upon picking up Henry from the couple who found the bird dazed on the road, it was immediately clear that Henry had suffered severe head trauma, said Patti Richards, who owns the nonprofit animal rehab.

A local vet who volunteers with the center gave Henry a full-body x-ray, which showed the bird had no broken bones. But one eye had turned dark, and the bird was not behaving normally.

On Friday, Henry had not fully recovered, and may never fully recover, but he had passed a crucial test -- passed it three times, actually. He had killed three rabbits, which meant he was ready to fend for himself in the wild again.

"This espouses the ideals of what Robert Redford wants to see at the resort," said Anita Pulham, who oversaw Friday's night owling event.

Protecting and preserving nature, while educating the public, is what Sundance hopes to accomplish with its night owl sessions, she said. Only 15 members of the public are allowed at each event, and the event is held only five times a year, in order to protect the owls in their natural habitat.

After meeting three owls from the rehab center up close, and then watching Henry released into the wild, the owlers left on their hour-long trek, but came back without having heard a wild owl. Most seemed not to mind.

"With wildlife it's always hit or miss. You get lucky, but sometimes it's not that night," said Arwen Rogers of Orem. "This was a good opportunity to learn about owls. It was beautiful to see them up close."

Gina King said she enjoyed night snowshoeing, and seeking owls was just a benefit. She said she comes about once a week to snowshoe at Sundance. On Friday she brought her 12-year-old son, Hunter, to the owling event with her.

"It would have been fun to have heard an owl, but it was fun, especially to be here snowshoeing," she said. "I like to come at night. It's peaceful."

The remaining Sundance night owling events of 2009 will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6, Feb. 27, March 6 and March 13. Cost is $30 per person and includes the services of a naturalist guide, snowshoe rental and use of the trails. Reservations are required as numbers are limited.

For more information, call the Sundance Cross Country Center at 223-4170.

Related Articles:
2010-10-31 - Halloween hoot: Four rescued owls released at Utah Lake by Caleb Warnock - Provo, Utah, U.S.A.

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