On May 20th, five baby barn owls made their way to MVH after being found at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley. They were discovered in a hay bale that had been delivered from a farm in Woodland, CA. Orphaned barn owls are unfortunately a common occurrence since they build nests not only in tree and cliff cavities but also in stacked hay bales. Dr. Lynn and Jan performed a general exam, and the owls were declared to be in good health. They were put in a quiet area where they actually caused some of their own commotion. Barn owls are also known as “hissing owls” for a good reason. When feeling threatened, the owls hiss to ward off danger and the sound resembles that of a cat or a snake (or something out of a horror movie). You’ll see from the photos that the nestlings were covered in white down which aids in keeping them warm while their feathers are still growing. The owls were taken to Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek where they will hopefully be released back into the wild.

Written by Lindsey H.