Great-horned Owls at ARC

I couldn't escape work to help with the new owls that needed banding. They were set for the weekend but the date was moved up. But there some good shots from the day to post.

This time they had some Great-horned Owls. Wish I could have been there as those birds are extremely cool. Here Scott McCorkle holds up the first bird to band.



The bands are applied.



Sometimes it take 3 to get through the operation!



We have a bigger group of birds to handle during the upcoming weekend. Can't wait.

Owl Banding at the ARC

It is that time of year again when birds that have made it to the Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka are ready to be released. We have been informed that many birds of different species will be readied for release in the next couple of weeks. The first of these birds were 3 Barn Owls.

Here is the first lucky customer that will be fitted with a new band before release.



Carol McCorkle collects and holds each bird as Richard applies the band.



The main order of business was finished quickly so I checked out a new addition to the center before heading back to work. The McCorkles have added an outdoor section to one of the mews so the young birds can get acclimated to the outdoors more quickly. Right now it is occupied by a few Red-shouldered Hawk chicks.



In due time, these chicks will also get banded and released.



Can't wait!