We have arrived safely in Canada settling in updates to follow. First I wanted to document my first day volunteering
The Road to OWL
Yesterday I had my interview with OWL. Travelling around a city I didn’t know with nothing familiar as references left me slightly nervous. But it was a challenge right? I set out, on train, bus, bus journey across town. Malcolm travelled with me on the first leg waving me off on my adventure.
Nearly There…
As I arrived I was asked to fill in a form and handed over my references. I expected for the short to medium term I would be set menial tasks it couldn’t have been further from the truth!
Information Board
In the office there is a board with all the birds on site. Those in the permanent collection, injured, in intensive care, those that are due to release. Each bird has it’s own section, notes are left for any additional duties needed – extra vitamin, ‘do not enter’ etc.
I was matched with Johanne a girl from Germany who had been volunteering there full time for the past 3 months. We collected our folder for a section and my training began! I hadn’t really thought all of this through. It seems so obvious now. What do birds of prey eat?
Dinner Time!
Dead things of course! More precisely rats, mice, quails, salmon. My stomach turned as I looked into the feeding area and the talk of cutting up rats! I found it amusing the woman was doing the chopping happened to be a vegan, you get use to it she chuckled! It’s all expereince right?
We moved to our section, each bird was checked, notes made on it’s condition, water changed if need be and if all food had been eaten. Red tails, falcons, merlins, never had I seen these birds close up. Magnificent!
Each folder is double checked and signed off before appropriate food is given. Never in my wildest dreams would I think I would be handling dead, rats and mice, mind you I never expected to be so close and interacting with such amazing birds!
I learned very quickly to keep my back to the wall, and never stop giving eye contact, dropping eye contact you are more liable to be attacked. Entering into an American Bald Eagle enclosure I wasn’t going to take any risks. Boy those are big birds. And ospreys, wow! I was use to seeing them through a telescope in the north of Scotland, here they were swooping low over my head scuffing my hair.
Sarah – Office Mascot
Lunch was grabbed as Sarah the office mascot watched over us. A hand reared barn owl who is more comfortably around humans.
The afternoon we tended the mouse house. Rows of cages with live food. It seemed ironic I was handling their dead comrades in the morning, and helping the living be more comfortable in the afternoon. In some ways I found this to be more difficult, they are way too jumpy! And mice babies *shivers*
Barred Owl Ready for release
The day ended well a Barred Owl that had received rehabilitation after an injury was due for release. He was checked over thoroughly and released back into the area he was found.
Last Checks
His weight his monitored and logged
As I stood at the bus stop on the way home, there in the trees sat a bald eagle. I was told to keep an eye on the skyline, as they are often seen around the local area. Incredible!
What a first day!