Three juvenile Barn Owls were admitted to the Wildlife Center of Virginia on August 6 from Mt. Solon, Virginia. True to their name, Barn Owls are often found roosting and nesting in abandoned barns or buildings as well as cavities and dense trees. In this case, the rescuer found the owlets in a nest in his silo.
A physical examination was performed on each owl upon admission to the Wildlife Center. The veterinary staff determined that each Barn Owl was clinically healthy, but with some slight dehydration. With all their wing and tail feathers present and intact, the owls were relocated to a small outdoor enclosure to be monitored.
With the owlets’ continued progress, they were moved to a larger flight pen (FP4) on August 26. The owlets will soon begin a daily exercise program to ensure that each bird is flight-conditioned prior to release. When the rehabilitation staff is satisfied with their flight capabilities, each owl will go through several days of live-prey testing. Tune in to the Center’s Critter Cam to watch these young Barn Owls!