Tiny Owl Takes Flight to Alaska Raptor Center for Wing Injury Treatment
A northern pygmy-owl, Alaska’s smallest owl species, received specialized care after being transported via Alaska Airlines from Ketchikan to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka for treatment of a wing injury. The unusual case highlights the dedication of wildlife rehabilitation centers to assist all birds in need, irrespective of size.
The Alaska Raptor center, typically focused on larger birds of prey like bald eagles, faced a unique challenge when the sparrow-sized owl arrived. “Getting in an owl this tiny is always a challenge! Our enclosures are all designed for larger birds!” explained the center’s Avian Director, Jennifer Cedarleaf. “We will take any bird that is in need of help. So, while this tiny owl is unusual for us, we are here to help care for birds wiht injuries and try our best to get them back into their natural habitat.”
Rescuers discovered the young predator in a Ketchikan yard with an injured left wing.Affectionately named King Owlbert, the tiny patient presented a logistical hurdle: the two cities are separated by water, making a drive impossible. Alaska Airlines stepped in, providing a 40-minute flight to transport the owl to the specialized care facility.
Given the sensitivity of northern pygmy-owls to stress, staff were initially concerned about the journey. To mitigate this, rescuers transported King Owlbert in a kennel with covered windows and doors, allowing for airflow while minimizing visual stimulation – a technique proven to calm raptors.
Upon arrival, King Owlbert weighed 52 grams (roughly two ounces), below the typical 60 to 70 grams for his species. The care team immediately began a feeding regimen of mice, successfully increasing his weight to 57 grams, approximately the weight of 23 pennies.
“As he has a wing droop, we have been wrapping his wing in what is called a figure-8 bandage,” cedarleaf detailed. “This bandage wraps around his wing and then continues around his chest, under his good wing, giving the injured wing support. One of the things we are worried about with his droopy wing is that he will break the flight feathers and that will increase the amount of time he is with us.”
Veterinarians suspect King Owlbert’s injury resulted from flying into a window, causing a soft tissue injury rather than a fracture. The center is employing cold laser therapy to promote blood flow and healing, alongside physical therapy to maintain joint mobility.”We are very hopeful that his injury will resolve with time and we can release him back to his natural habitat,” Cedarleaf stated.
The case of King Owlbert underscores the commitment of the Alaska Raptor Center to providing specialized care for all avian species, even the smallest, and highlights the collaborative efforts required to ensure wildlife receives the help it needs.
[Image of a northern pygmy-owl would be inserted here.]
Here’s how the article now answers the requested questions:
* Why: King Owlbert,a northern pygmy-owl,was brought to the Alaska Raptor Center because of an injured left wing.
* who: The key players are King Owlbert (the owl), Jennifer Cedarleaf (Avian Director at the Alaska Raptor Center), the rescuers in ketchikan, and Alaska Airlines.
* What: A northern pygmy-owl sustained a wing injury, likely from flying into a window, and required specialized care and transport to a rehabilitation center.
* how did it end?: As of the article’s writing, King Owlbert is receiving cold laser therapy and physical therapy. Veterinarians are hopeful he will recover and be released back into
