From The Raptor Center

The Eastern screech-owl (EASO), standing only about eight inches high at adulthood, is one of the smaller owls living in Minnesota. A recent encounter with baby EASOs at TRC's raptor hospital demonstrated how their interesting defensive and protective behaviors can make them tricky to evaluate.

On May 18, a baby EASO was found on the ground after the high winds blew it out of its tree, and was brought to TRC for evaluation. The bird checked out as normal and healthy, was banded, and returned to its nest site, where three of its siblings were now also sighted blown out of the tree. Two were bright and active, but the third seemed lethargic. To be on the safe side, all three were brought to the hospital for evaluation and found to be healthy, including our lethargic friend.

TRC medical director Dr. Dana observed that "Eastern screech owls are a challenging species to evaluate because they play 'opossum', or have a freeze response when stressed or threatened. They can look sick, lethargic, or even deceased as they are so still. Sometimes they will "freeze" while lying down. And sometimes, when standing, they will tighten their feathers to their body in a camouflage posture, trying to look like a stick or piece of tree bark."

Our examination confirmed the chick was just doing its normal defensive freeze response, and all were healthy. They were given fluids to ensure they were well hydrated, a snack to fill their bellies, and returned to their recovery location that very same day to be reunited with their parents.