A young Rufous Owl and its fight to survive
And what some carers go through at their own expense to support our wildlife.
Young Rufous Owl in question, held in a small cage, before it was retrieved
In late October a young Rufous Owl was illegally taken from the wild, at least 3 weeks before it was capable of fledging (Lloyd Nielsen and John Young pers com) from near a breeding site in the Mareeba, North Queensland region by (allegedly) two people who claimed they were just helping the bird!!!.
Was this bird actually on the ground and if it was, why was it not injured from dropping from its hollow prematurely or was it illegally collected from the nest hollow???. As Rufous Owls are one of the most aggressive Australian birds, why were the collectors not stooped on or injured in some way when the bird was picked up?? To many questions here and these people need to be seriously investigated for interfering in the first place and was it collected for some financial gain??
Cutting a long story short, the bird was finally located with the intel from a number of people and it was soon realised that this unfortunate and special bird was maybe being held as a pet or for some other sinister reason.???.
At the time of discovering where the bird was being held, the collectors, so to speak, seemed to refuse to want to give it up and so it became a victim of human greed. The perpetrators of this illegal act of interfering with wildlife, without a permit and illegally placing the bird in captivity, totally uninformed of what it might eat, fed it meal worms, crickets and a range of other foods, including insectivore mixtures, which later proved to be starving the bird from its normal meals of high protein, such as Gliders, Fruit-bats, Birds and rodents.
This is very evident when looking at the stress lines in the feathers above that are caused by a whole range of things, particuarly starvation.
I don't know where this chest puffer got the idea from that I was a drunk, maybe it was when I was having a beer with my two mates, Alwyn and Rex!! Maybe he would call them drunks as well!!
Unbelievable how people just turn on others to suit their own gain. Human nature is incredibly strange, particuarly with some.
It appears MW also hates many carers who do an incredible job, mostly at their own expense to save and rehabilitate many birds and and animals that otherwise would die and I applaud them all for that.
The following is just some of the statements from this tiny rooster who seems to get pleasure out of trying to stand over people and show how people should take notice of him or suffer the consequences.
...................................................................................................................................................................
Just some of the extracts from dozens of messages, FB posts and conversations this guy has had
MW,
1“I have been defeated, I have been betrayed, I am tired and
I have failed this owl. I am sorry.”
What a pathetic, attention seeking Bantam rooster....
……………………………………………………………
2 MW about Amber - “This carer is breaking some of the
rules that her permit for care cites. Healthy birds must be released into the
wild”
Utter rubbish, Amber has all the permits which MW does not and the bird was not even close to being healthy
…………………………………….
3 MW “it seems she had no interest in this and always
wanted North Queensland’s largest owl in care”
This again is an outrageous statement when Lloyd, I and numerous others knows Amber goes strictly by the book, is and incredible carer who has one thing in mind and that is getting the birds or animals as healthy as possible then getting them back into the wild.
Her skills are incredible and I can vouch for that as I have known her since the 80's
………………………………………..
4 MW ..”Despite not knowing much about her and the
facility and despite some warnings, I gave her the benefit
of the doubt and decided to utilise her for anything in the region.
Who the hell does this guy think he is...the only warnings he got is in in his own mind from sheer arrogance..unbelievable...
……………………………………….
5 MW ‘’ I don’t give a f… what Lloyd Nielsen has said”
This was one of the straws that broke the camels back, so to speak. Not only is Lloyd one of my closest and dearest friends but, he has been in the field for more than 70 years and is highly respected by thousands, particuarly me. WHAT BLOODY CHEEK as to degrade one of our finest wildlife people in the country in such a derogatory way. Makes me speechless!!!
…………………………………………..
6 MW ‘If the bird is not attempted to be re-united I will
get Jasmine to call Cairns DES again and have it removed from you. I don’t care
anymore”
Well guess what Mr Chest puffer, the authorities at a high level were kept informed from day 1 and most of your ravings you wrote about Amber, Lloyd, myself and many others is in their hands.
MW is the architect of his own demise.
And if he thinks threatening people including a Vet nurse, wildlife authorities or animal carers is a smart move, then think again man...
……………………………………………….
7 MW “All raptor carers are the same as Im aware and I
will f…ing lobby to have every bodies licence’s removed if they keep this shit
up”
Just look at this guy, does he think he is the Massier?? wow the arrogance goes to a new level beyond any common sense.
No sain person would write or presume such garbage to thinking you have that much power or can be so derogatory to so many people who do their very best to help save so many animals.
Maybe he thinks the people who rescued so many animals from the bushfires were also unskilled and should follow his lead..wow wow
…………………………………………………..
8 Amber spoke to MW and told him she had spoken to John
Young, then later about lunch time on Tuesday or Wednesday last week, MW rang
her back and said “you know John is a drunk!!” Amber, I don’t think so. MW “he likes his drink” Amber, we all like
a drink MW and that doesn’t make us a drunk. You know I have known John since
the 80’s, then there was no reply and the matters changed.
I have already explained how this outrageous and defamatory statement made me feel above.
What is wrong with this guy as to be so insensitive and down right full of himself, begs belief.
Again from some one who has not met me and worst of all, who I have supported.
This shows complete lack of respect for your fellow man or woman and who knows what he conjures up about others and his friends.
I would not and will not trust him one inch!!!!!
…………………………………….
9 MW..”I am sick of carers. Im always the mediator down
here to try and get things off people who shouldn’t have them”
Here we go again, they have to answer to me and I am the poor guy sob sob because I am always pulling people out of the bog and I need attention. MAKES ME PUKE.
………………………………………
10 MW ‘’Would love
to know location and any other details of the bird once you find out too. Want
to rule out a few pairs that were getting hounded by birders.”
This makes me laugh. He claimed in one statement, (that authorities have) that he knew this pair but, clearly he does not and was just going to force someone to do what he wanted or demanded!!!!
………………………………..
11 MW ‘’If and when
the bird gets to you, I can tell you where the adults hang out for reunite
attempt ect ect.”
Then this, MW make your mind up if you know or you don't know where it came from and I totally doubt whether you have any idea.. At least get your story straight.
Enough of this, MW is hanging himself with his own arrogance and selfish, attention seeking words.
………………………………………………..
This is a young Rufous Owl, hours before he fledged at about 900 grams. As you can see he is well developed and could fly, all though feebly
This is the owlet now in Ambers care much smaller than one that could fly where it has the best chance of all to survive, with all the right permits, with authorities in the loop and with the support of Lloyd and I because we believe in her and know her amazing skills.
If Lloyd and I thought for one second the bird could have been reunited with its parents, we would have strongly advised this course of action, right from the word go.
We made sure right from the word go that every thing was completely transparent with authorities and were praised for it.
A complaint was also filed against Amber, no doubt from the guy in question and because the authorities knew about the whole process they simply followed their protocol of following it up just asking how long it may have to be in care.
Rest assured it will be released as soon as it is possible to do so.
...............................................
Following on Lloyd and I visited Ambers place to check on the owlet where I also met Nick, her very supportive partner and most of all to view her facilities and to see the precious owlet to see how it was going.
I am pleased to say he came in at around 370 grams, nearly 800 grams smaller than an adult female, which clearly is way to small to just plonk back in the bush unless it was put back in the hollow.
And now he is gaining approximately 30 grams a day and is now more than 620 grams and doing well.
How long he will be in care depends when he regrows some of his tail feathers that were lost because of the way it has been treated and starved till now.
Scales clearly showing this beautiful bird putting on weight under Amber and her partner Nicks, great work.
To their credit and considerable personal expense, Amber designed a huge flight enclosure which was constructed by her skilled partner Nick and some volunteers. The following is just a few images of this great piece that gives a huge space for raptors to stretch their wings to learn to fly before being released.
A Barking Owl and two Nankeen Kestrels were recently released from this very facility with great success.
This amazing enclosure is 15 metres long with shade cloth on the walls to reduce any injury.
It is also on the edge of the forest next to natural habitat
JY, Amber and Lloyd for comparison of size of the structure
Amber dressed in an unrecognizable out fit to reduce the risk of imprinting the bird.
Feeding the owlet with mice
To Whom it May
Concern
Amber Dahlberg and a Rufous
Owl chick
A
Rufous Owl chick which had fallen from a nesting hollow was collected by a
member of the public under probable suspicious circumstances. The chick was
kept under very poor conditions in a small cage for several days, apparently being
fed meal worms and little else before being rescued by others. It is now in the
hands of Amber Dahlberg at Julatten (under permit), one of north Queensland’s
foremost wildlife rescuers, carers and rehabbers.
The actions
of a person in Brisbane who first heard of the bird’s unfortunate situation
organised the retrieval of the bird by responsible people from the very poor
situation to which it had been subjected for about 6 days should be applauded.
Unfortunately, the original finder was uncooperative and evasive in handing it
over to a wildlife carer, despite that person holding it illegally.
Shamefully
though, following some derogatory and false comments towards Amber from one
person, Amber then received abuse from a number of quarters and has been nastily
accused of putting her own ego before the welfare of the bird (i.e. seeking kudos
for rearing a Rufous Owl) before the welfare of the bird.
Amber initially
sought advice from two long experienced ornithologists, John Young and Lloyd
Nielsen, both having had extensive experience with owls, together totalling
more than 100 years of extensive ornithological experience and research. Both
gave similar advice independently (which Amber accepted) which was contrary to the
advice from Brisbane.
The intense
and rather aggressive advice from Brisbane (i.e. to reunite it with its parents
regardless despite being away from them for 6 days), the publishing on social
media and incorrect assumption of Amber’s intentions and the abusive
conversation with a veterinary nurse was most unfortunate. It was apparent that
no attempt was made by this person to check the bird’s age before going off
half-cocked in this unfortunate manner.
The
owlet is quite young and not a newly fledged bird as was apparently assumed but
is still a few weeks off fledging. It still needs the protection of a nesting
hollow. And we will never know why it fell from it.
Rufous
Owl breeding hollows are nearly always very high, usually in tall eucalypts and
melaleucas, and about 15 metres from the ground, sometimes as high as 35
metres. Usually only expert tree climbers can reach them if a cherry picker can’t be got near them. And there
is usually much skill and hard work to put it to locate one initially. Unless
the nesting hollow was known there would have been almost buckley’s chance of
finding it at this stage if this was a lone owlet.
Had an
attempt been made to reunite it with its parents, considering its age and the
time it was away from them, its chances of survival would have been very low.
Releasing it openly away from the nesting hollow would most likely have exposed
it to attack from butcherbirds, kookaburras and similar birds. Further, its
feet have not developed enough for it to be perching or clinging to branches.
Should it be put on a branch, it would
fall off.
On another
note, one must also wonder how a chick could be retrieved so easily from a
situation such as this in the first place, suggesting something does not ring
true. Rufous Owls are notorious for savagely protecting their young (Ref.
Hanzab and our own experiences). There is also a very slight possibility that
the parents may have deserted it for some unknown reason. We have known that to
happen even though very rarely!
We
both have known Amber for many years and know that the silly claim that she was
concerned primarily for her own ego as published in social media is absolute
rubbish. Amber is totally devoted to wildlife rescue and rehab for the good of
the animal itself. She is one of the best wildlife rehabbers in north
Queensland. Many of us consider her the best!! Her recent great success in
rehabbing an adult male Barking Owl with a broken wing and subsequent release
speaks volumes. The bird has now paired with a lone female in a territory not
far from the rehab centre and is doing fine.
I ask the
eternal question– Why don’t people check their “facts” before they open their
mouths or put it onto social media??
[John Young is regarded as
Australia’s foremost authority on owls. He supplied much of the data for
Schodde & Mason’s monumental book Nocturnal Birds
of Australia. Without his expertise, David
Hollands’ highly acclaimed owl books Birds of the
Night and Owls, Frogmouths
and Nightjars of Australia would never have eventuated. In
addition he has personally reared many fledgling owls of several species
including Rufous Owl over many years.
Lloyd Nielsen has been deeply interested in owls duringa lifetime. As an example, he has located and studied many Rufous Owls and their territories in a study area around Mount Molloy, Mount Carbine and
Finally, every thing that needs to be done with this beautiful and precious bird is being done in the best hands possible with the best care possible. With one thing in mind and that is, getting it back into the wild where it belongs.
The authorities will be respected as they should be by being informed of its well being, right through to its release.
And most of all, carers throughout Australia do a great job because many animals and birds would perish without them. They mostly do this service with their own money. It is not an easy task.
I respect them and always will.
Amber Dahlberg is one of the best I know and have worked with and she does it from the heart, with incredible skill and ability to get them healthy enough to release back into the wild.
Lloyd and I applaud her and all like her.
Best to all
John.
