The plight of a young Rufous Owl and the debarkle that followed in North Qld

                                             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.

Above also shows the damage to its tail feathers from being in such a confined space.

Eventually Lloyd Nielsen and I (between us with more than 130 years experience in the field with birds, particuarly myself with owls) were contacted, independently and unbeknown to each other by Amber

Dahlberg, a highly skilled Animal Carer who is also very skilled at Raptor care and release.

She was given rather forceful advice, shall we name him MW from southern Queensland and because of the demanding type of style it was given, Amber rightfully decided to consult Lloyd and I to ask, was it the right thing to do to try and reunite the young owlet after it had been away from its parents for many days.

 We both advised her with the same answers that it would be very unwise under the circumstances in which it was taken, its age and what it was being fed. So Amber decided to take our advice knowing that we we were not inexperienced and I for one had raised all of the Australian owls, except the greater Sooty Owl as many people had brought them to me over more than 40 years when they were found for one reason or another. Also during the clearing of Mahogany Glider habitat in Ingham, a Rufous Owl nest tree was knocked over with 2 very small owlets. One died from injury and the other was around 3 days old.

Over a period of months feeding it on Cane Rats I eventually got him to full size around 1400 grams and he was successfully released in Lannercost State Forest in Ingham where he eventually successfully got a mate and the territory is still occupied.

This is where things got nasty when Amber spoke to MW about her decision to go with what Lloyd and I had advised. Everyone is allowed to have a difference of opinion, if it is sensible and not derogatory of someone else. 

Around lunch time on this particular day, last week, soon after Amber had informed MW that she had spoken to me, she received a phone call from MW saying "You know John Young is a drunk, is he drinking now". When I heard this, Lloyd was sitting right next to me and both our mouths just dropped open with me following with fire coming out of my eyes as I slammed my fist into Ambers table with total rage.

How dare he make such a rash statement that could not be further from the truth in such a slanderous and defamatory way because he did not get his own way. My blood is still boiling and I just prey for his sake that I never come in contact with him in any way shape or form for his own good.

This guy has self appointed himself the "Godfather of Owls" and its his way or the highway and most of it in my eyes and dozens of others is, its attention seeking from a Bantam Rooster who has an ego a mile wide who thinks he can say and do any thing he wants. 

Well Mr MW I stood in your corner and supported you a few times but, will never do that again. You are an arrogant ass who thinks you are god with a mouth to go with it. Do you turn on all your supporters like this or is it in your jeans just to try and stand over people. A fatal mistake to try that insensitive garbage with me. You crossed the line and I am not finished with you by a long shot. This is defamation and highly misleading.

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.

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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....

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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

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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

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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...

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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!!!

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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...

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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 

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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!!!!! 

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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.

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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!!!!

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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.

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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.

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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

Again

                                                          This happy owlet with a mouse

A face that they say only a mum could love, well he has certainly got my attention.

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.