Sarah West, a member of the owl welfare staff, looks back at this winter’s admissions:

Of the 14 owls admitted during the past six months, six were Barn Owls and eight were Tawny Owls. Three of the Barn Owls died and three were released into the wild. Similarly, four of the Tawny Owls died and four were released.

These figures may not seem hugely successful at first glance. However, it must be remembered that many of the casualties we have admitted to hospital are often beyond repair by the time they are found and reach us, and others have simply received such extensive injuries.

We are therefore very proud that we have managed to successfully re-release 50 per cent of all admissions this winter. Without the care and treatment we were able to offer these birds, the numbers of deaths would inevitably have been considerably greater.

Unusual cases

Already this year we have had many patients through the hospital doors – and they included a couple of unusual cases. Some of you may have read recently about a owl found hanging by its wing from a kite string which was successfully rescued. We have had a similar case which we had doubts would have such a successful outcome.

A female Tawny, which was originally handed in at our local RSPCA centre, was brought to us with an extremely swollen toe. This had been caused from it being found hanging from a tree by netting that was wrapped around her foot.

When she arrived with us her toe was very swollen and painful. We gave her medication and bathed the toe regularly. She appeared to be making quite good progress until one morning we discovered that the foot had swollen again quite suddenly overnight.

We decided that she should visit the vets and returned with a two-week course of antibiotics. Meanwhile, we had received a phone call from the people that found her, saying that her mate had been calling to her. So, as you can imagine, we were desperate to get her well and released back at the location.

Two weeks later the toe looked much better until, again suddenly overnight, the swelling reappeared and we were beginning to wonder about the future of this poor owl. Following two more visits to the vet and an x-ray of the foot, it became apparent that the infection had spread to the bone. It was recommended that the toe be amputated.

After careful consideration, and knowing that the loss of a toe would not prevent the owl from hunting and surviving naturally in the wild, we gave the go-ahead for the operation.

Successful recovery

The Tawny soon adapted to the missing toe and made a full and successful recovery. She was re-released back to her former location just a few weeks ago.

We are now preparing for the influx of wild baby Tawnies that we have every spring, having been picked up after straying from their nest site, and appearing to be abandoned.

Unfortunately in many cases the parent Tawny will know where the chick is and, being rather inquisitive youngsters, they will often make their way back to the nest site when they have finished being nosy.

However, people think they are helping by bringing them in to us…