Meet Owlivia, the Rescue Owl.
Our neighbor, Dale, walks his property each day, picking up sticks and fallen debris. Ten days ago, he discovered a sweet little baby owl looking up at him from his front yard. Owlivia, as Dale named her, chirped up at us, pleading for help. We did what we could. I captured photos and shared videos with friends and family. Dale called local nature organizations for advice. Todd built her a nest in an antique drawer.
Todd spent the first-night transferring Owlivia to her new spot without imprinting his human scent. He attached a camera to the tree, and we waited. We worried that the mom would reject her or not be able to find her. I shared the footage and asked friends to send her positive thoughts and prayers.
I rescued the drawer from a broken antique chest in my mom’s home and planned to use it to serve sweets at our firepit. Todd had a different vision for the drawer and it began serving a new flock. We watched the mom selflessly feed the baby owlet multiple creatures, until she flew into her own nest. Dale shared that an owlet had fallen the previous day, and he had buried him. My heart ached for this mama. Was there a hole in the nest that the babies fell from? Did Owlivia get pushed out by accident? Did she bravely think she could fly?
Todd called in an owl expert to examine Owlivia for injuries, and she explained that she was young enough to have her “egg tooth” on her beak. She encouraged Todd to stay out of the nest. Too much hovering with the owlet will cause stress and anxiety for the parents.
We all watched Owlivia preening her feathers and bonding with her parents. We did not hear the mom nagging her to brush her “egg tooth” or clean her nest? Owlivia’s age of three weeks was determined after viewing her “egg tooth,” which is used to break the shell of the egg and help the owl to escape from it at hatching. We learned something new each day.
As Todd shifted the camera angles, we watched them feed and connect. We replayed videos of her spreading her wings and testing her legs. She inspired us to start our days with a good stretch. I found myself pausing at the driveway to listen to the melody of hoots and screeches. The noises of these Great Horn Owls provided a whole new meditative experience.
The owls appear to be in sync and connected to their young, but we have no idea what goes on in the big nest high in the sky. We try not to make assumptions on what is happening behind the branches. As day turns to dusk, their harmony is comforting and we tuck ourselves in.
“Do you think the parents are happily enjoying time alone in their tree?” Todd asks.
“Are there other babies they need to take care of? Is Owlivia an only-owlet?” I wonder. Our pillow talk has shifted from our own nest to theirs.
Owlivia happily watches our neighbors walk, run, and bike by her tree. She appears to enjoy her simple home and doesn’t shy away from the camera. Animals are an easy topic to share and talk about instead of the tired COVID conversations. Owlivia has been featured in classrooms, at nurse’s stations, Zoom meetings, nature volunteer groups, dinner tables and bedsides. Times are tough for so many and people are subscribing to catch a glimpse of the sweet story of this bird.
She either fell from a nest that was not built properly, or she tried to fly too early. Either way, she landed in our hearts from a mistake, and that failure has turned into our great joy. We are trying to soak up her owl wisdom, and look forward to adding to this list before she flies away.
Life Lessons from Owlivia:
Be open and flexible to a new plan.
Believe in the power of prayer.
Embrace your failures.
Know when to back off and observe from a distance.
Shift your view and perspective.
Teach your chicks to care for themselves.
Listen carefully to the sounds of nature.
Do not make assumptions about what goes on in other nests.
Live simply, but find a good view.
Start your day with a good stretch.
Finally, if you don’t stop to notice your surroundings, you might miss the magic.