"Empty Nest"

rockpaperlove

Read on, if you like sappy stories:

I joined a Wildlife Rescue group back in May as a distraction from cycling and as a way to fulfill my growing internal maternal need.  I volunteered during the summer months by hand feeding the smallest-sweetest-loudest baby birds through needleless syringes in the "baby bird nursery".  It was such a special treat to rehabilitate so many special little feathered creatures!

The center brings is all sorts of lost or injured wild animals and the most majestic of all were the varied owls.  I expressed my interest in helping with the baby owl program as those wide eyed baby owls called to my crazy nature loving heart!  

Shortly after my expressed interest and some basic rehab training, there was a baby screech owl that came into the center.  He was tiny and lifeless and he was assumed to have fallen from a nest.  A vet at the center took him in for about a week, got his strength up, then turned him over to me for basic further care until it was time to return him to the wild place where he was originally found. 

The little guy who we nicknamed Willis lived in a serene little corner of our house until yesterday when it came time for his release.  It was bitter sweet as this little guy brought a bunch of joy to DH and I.  It was a remarkable experience and we got sort of used to having the little guy around, but we knew he needed to spread his wings and be wild. 

At the end of the day, it was such a neat experience and little Willis brought some good laughs and great memories!  We are left with an "empty nest" once again, but we feel lucky to have helped a little feathered one in need!

The End.

Mitzi Bishi

How awesome! I also love his name... my husband used to joke we'd name something in our lives Willis. 

How did you contain him while he was at your house? Was he in some kind of enclosure? I hope you took a lot of photos!  

rockpaperlove

Mitzi Bishi:

How awesome! I also love his name... my husband used to joke we'd name something in our lives Willis. 

How did you contain him while he was at your house? Was he in some kind of enclosure? I hope you took a lot of photos!  

Glad you appreciate the name we chose!  His name became a source of convo within our family.  Everyone had a version of Willis when they would ask about him.  It transformed from classic Willis to...Chilly Willy, Wet Willy, Wahezee, etc.  The poor guy may very well have an identity crisis!

We contained him in a large crate that we placed branches for perches inside of.  We attempted to make it as natural as possible. 

Mrs.McIrish

I just had a dream the other night about an owl. It seemed like a strange thing to dream about so I googled "meaning of owl dream".  I found the following and thought I'd share since you had a real life owl:

These dreams, when owl comes to you, ask yourself what wisdom you are denying or seeking...what inner wisdom or maybe it's intuition coming forth to give you a message...why?  Owls can see in the dark, they see what we cannot.  They move silently and are stealth hunters; in other words they see and hear what we are afraid to face yet they bring wisdom that will move us forward into the light, into a new change. 

 

Mitzi Bishi

Was he super nocturnal / noisy at night? I'd assume so since he's an owl. What was in the mix you fed him? 

MandaS08

Awww, that is so sweet.

I've been thinking about volunteering at an animal shelter lately-need to feed those maternal insticts somehow!

MBfromBMC

That sounds amazing! Not only do I love owls, but DH is an animal freak and we are always looking for opportunities like this for him...

Keep up the good work  

rockpaperlove

Mitzi Bishi:

Was he super nocturnal / noisy at night? I'd assume so since he's an owl. What was in the mix you fed him? 

He was def nocturnal, but not very loud with hoots and hollars.  He required to be fed as if he were in his natural habitat - so mice!  DH handled the (sacraficial) mice.  He thought it was "cool".  If you ask me, that part of the rehab was gross! 

Gregermis

So sweet!!

Edwina.McDunnough

What an amazing experience! 

reb259

I would love to do something like that...then I read about the mouse!  lol  I still think that would be a very cool experience

Bella2u07

Awww! What a great experience!

rockpaperlove

Mrs.McIrish:

I just had a dream the other night about an owl. It seemed like a strange thing to dream about so I googled "meaning of owl dream".nbsp; I found the following and thought I'd share since you had a real life owl:
These dreams, when owl comes to you, ask yourself what wisdom you are denying or seeking...what inner wisdom or maybe it's intuition coming forth to give you a message...why?nbsp; Owls can see in the dark, they see what we cannot.nbsp; They move silently and are stealth hunters; in other words they see and hear what we are afraid to face yet they bring wisdom that will move us forward into the light, into a new change.nbsp;
nbsp;

Thanks for sharing this! Very interesting.

jillychris

What a very cool experience!!! Do you think you'll get to do something like that again, now that you've successfully done it once for the organization?

rockpaperlove

jillychris:

What a very cool experience!!! Do you think you'll get to do something like that again, now that you've successfully done it once for the organization?

This was sort of a trial run between the organization and I.  DH was the leary one going into it, but his heart melted in the first five minutes in person with Willis the owl.  DH called him Will-bee and he keeps saying he misses Will-bee.  So cute!