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Barn Owl in Wake Co



Hi all. Barn Owls are a rare sighting in Wake County so last week's
adventure at the Museum's Wet Lab on Reedy Creek Road near Schenck
Forest is of interest. It started with Wayne Starnes, our fish
biologist, hearing clanging in the exhaust ductwork atop the lab
building. Ocassionally starlings have entered the duct and have been
"blown out", alive, by starting the fan (a tumbler-type fan). But this
sounded bigger. Alvin Braswell, our Herp-tile biologist, climbed atop
the roof to inspect, couldn't see the animal but could tell by the sound
it was a bit larger than a starling. It was down in the duct but not in
danger of being injured by the fan, so he turned on the fan to dislodge
the animal. First out was a cloud of dust and one feather. Some sort of
raptor Alvin thought, but not the kestrel he had imagined being in
there. Then a bit of clammoring and a wing appeared. Finally the whole
bird emerged, which flew a few feet and keeled over. It was a Barn
Owl...very exhausted and de-hydrated. Alvin caught the bird and gave it
some water...which it drank. He then delivered the bird to the NCSU Vet
School. They re-habbed the bird for a couple of days then released it,
Wednesday, back at the meadows near the Wet Lab. Alvin spotted the bird
hunting the meadows last Thursday as he was leaving work. Its a good
place for a Barn Owl as long as it dodges traffic along Edwards Mill
Road. Maybe a Barn Owl Box can be mounted on the sight. John Connors @
NC Museum of Natural Sciences