Feisty Survivor

Photographed in West Jordan, Utah

 

This individual survived a collision with a power pole and his right wing had to be amputated. But he did retain his feisty spirit, bone-chilling voice, and incredibly soft head-feathers, which I had the opportunity to feel at a bird demonstration where this rehabed Barn Owl was on display.

 

Tens of thousands of birds, including Bald and Golden Eagles, owls, and hawks are thought to die each year as a result of power line electrocutions. The large wingspan of these birds can bridge the gap between two lines or a line and a pole, completing a deadly circuit. Birds also die as a result of direct collisions with power lines, which can be virtually invisible, particularly in poor weather. Fortunately solutions do exist, and power companies have become increasingly willing to implement these, as a single avian electrocution incident can disrupt electricity service for thousands of customers at a time.

 

--American Bird Conservancy

 

Done