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Only Wild Creatures Understand (thelemmy.club)
submitted 2 days ago by anon6789@lemmy.world to c/superbowl@lemmy.world
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From Sriram Udhaya

Perfectly still.Perfectly hidden. Watching everything. A Long-eared Owl, blending so effortlessly into the forest that it felt like the tree itself had come alive. No movement. No sound. Just patience, the kind only wild creatures truly understand.

Bird: Long eared owl
Location :USA
Gear: Nikon Z9 and 600 f4

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[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

Are Owls as fluffy as they look? I assume they're not too keen on cuddles, though....

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago

They are actually even fluffier than they look!

Owls are 40-60% feather by volume. There's not really near as much actual bird as you'd probably imagine. Also, the feathers, due to their structural changes to aid in silent flight, are noticeably softer than other bird feathers. They are packed less densely with barbs (the soft parts that stick of the hard vane of the feather) and they have more give to them. I'd read about this before finally getting to handle some, and it was still shocking to feel the difference.

You are correct that they don't enjoy cuddles. Cuddling seems to be much more a mammalian thing. Birds don't seem to like being touched, as anything that could damage their wings or feathers is life threatening. No flight means no way to secure food, shelter, or safety.

[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

I've seen birds that enjoy being touched, and even pet. Mostly parrots and cockatoos I think. But they're highly social birds, not silent hunters like owls.

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

It always slips my mind that those types of birds are still wild animals. I kind of assumed the ones kept as pets are domesticated breeds, but looking it up now, it seems they aren't. They are just often ones raised by people. The owls that people touch like pets are the same way. This is why we don't get to touch the owls at the rehab any more than medically necessary, but why the falconers can touch their birds.

People debate where the line is between being acclimated to something vs enjoying something, and that is something one has to determine if they decide to keep captive birds. I've seen some birds that look ok as pets, and others that have looked really miserable.

[-] Nima@leminal.space 5 points 2 days ago

look at that beautiful intense face! gorgeous.

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

I'm a big time Long Ear fan. The colors, the patterns, and of course those long "ears!"

this post was submitted on 11 Apr 2026
98 points (100.0% liked)

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US Wild Animal Rescue Database: Animal Help Now

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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.

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