From Ebrahim Akbarzadeh
Adult Great Horn Owl. I love it when they do their grooming and at the end, they do an owl/dog shake and puff up their feathers. They look much bigger and intimidating.
Nikon Z9, Nikkor 180-600mm @ 600mm.
1/2000 sec. f/6.3. ISO 10000.
05/18/2025.
We just recently discussed this behavior, known as rousing!
For owls that are superb.
US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now
International Wildlife Rescues: RescueShelter.com
Australia Rescue Help: WIRES
Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Italy Wild Bird Rescue: wildvogelhilfe.org
If you find an injured owl:
Note your exact location so the owl can be released back where it came from. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist to get correct advice and immediate assistance.
Minimize stress for the owl. If you can catch it, toss a towel or sweater over it and get it in a cardboard box or pet carrier. It should have room to be comfortable but not so much it can panic and injure itself. If you can’t catch it, keep people and animals away until help can come.
Do not give food or water! If you feed them the wrong thing or give them water improperly, you can accidentally kill them. It can also cause problems if they require anesthesia once help arrives, complicating procedures and costing valuable time.
If it is a baby owl, and it looks safe and uninjured, leave it be. Time on the ground is part of their growing up. They can fly to some extent and climb trees. If animals or people are nearby, put it up on a branch so it’s safe. If it’s injured, follow the above advice.
For more detailed help, see the OwlPages Rescue page.
Damn! Yes, they do look intimidating.
They are no joke. Even though they're mostly fluffy and air, they still got attitude out the wazzoo, grip strength stronger than a pitbull's jaws, lots of sharp bits, and are of consequential size!
I haven't gone in with an adult yet, but the baby we have is already near as big and it keeps me on my toes.