BARRED OWLS
MATILDAMatilda was found with an injured right wing, most likely the result of being hit by a vehicle. Despite attempts to mend the damage done, her wing never healed properly. She is able to hop and glide within her enclosure, though would not be able to sustain flight for long periods of time.
She spent the first part of her recovery with the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary before moving in at the Nature Park sometime in 2011 or 2012. As with many of the birds residing at the park, her age is unknown. Matilda is one of the park's original animal ambassadors! She has delighted many thousands of people during her tenure. |
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EUGENEJuvenile birds experience a number of challenges on the way to adulthood. Competition and sibling rivalries in the nest are common. A rowdy sibling may end up scratching another's eye with their sharp talons. Learning to hunt poses its own challenges. While owls have fantastic hearing and see much better in the dark than humans, they sometimes become so focused on their prey that they may collide with sharp objects, like a tree branch, in their flight path.
The origin of Eugene's injury is unknown, but it is assumed to be one of those two cases as she was fairly young when rescued. The affected eye sustained a scratch, cut, or puncture which became infected, and needed to be removed. She can often be seen chasing the lizards that scamper across the top of her enclosure, demonstrating the ability to flip around mid-flight. |
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Scientific name: Strix varia
[ cool barred owl facts here ] |
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