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CNN
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The plight of Flacco, the Eurasian eagle owl who escaped from New York’s Central Park Zoo last year, illustrates how difficult it is to survive in a world transformed by humans.
The gorgeous creature, with a six-foot wingspan, piercing orange eyes and tufted ears, captivated the world as it flew freely over Manhattan. Every time Flacco’s fans see him soar, land and catch prey, they post updates on social media, sparking an intense love affair.
But then it all ended. After a year on the run, Flacco died after flying into a Manhattan high-rise. Crying emojis dominate social media. These reactions may seem a bit over the top, but focusing on nature can have this effect on a person.
Concern about Flacco’s life and death is not unusual. During the pandemic, people who had never been interested in wildlife in their own backyards began to take notice.
As the number of Americans engaging in birdwatching increases, the popularity of owls in the United States has soared. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey found that as many as 96 million people now observe or photograph birds in parks or in their backyards. That’s twice as much birding activity as eight years ago.
But there’s something special about owls that people seem to appreciate.
Maybe it’s because they look like us, says Denver Holt of the Owl Research Institute.
Their heads were big; their eyes, noses and mouths were all symmetrical, Holt mused. We are often attracted to animals with big, round eyes.
Owls are one of the most widely recognized groups of animals in the world, Holt said. This has been true since prehistoric times. In French caves, there are etchings of owls on the walls.
And, he said, they make cool sounds — barks, beeps and trills. He said they help humans eliminate pests, eating an average of six rats a night. And they are beautiful.
David Weidenfeld, a senior conservation scientist at the American Bird Conservancy, said the birds, which often have bright yellow eyes, are mesmerizing in their ability to hunt in the dark — and their night vision is astonishing.
If you look at their feather patterns, you’ll see they’re very complex, Weidenfeld said. Owls have special feathers that are softer than many birds. They make almost no sound when flying, so they can surprise their prey.
Sadly, many owl species are in decline, and some are highly threatened, Weidenfeld said.
Of the 19 species of owls found in the United States, more than half are declining, a trend similar to that of all bird species. According to the American Bird Conservancy, the biggest causes are habitat loss from climate change and human land use, collisions (especially during migration) and pesticides that kill the insects and rodents the owls depend on.
Weidenfeld said we must start making sure the owl’s habitat is preserved.
Old-growth forests in the U.S. and Canada are declining due to high timber value, which is a major reason for the dramatic decline in spotted owl populationsAccording to the American Bird Conservancy.
The open grasslands where tiny burrowing owls nest in underground burrows are shrinking.
Burrowing owl populations have plummeted in Florida, where they were once abundant.
Weidenfeld told CNN that Florida is essentially turning into condominiums.
The lack of open grassland also affects the short-eared owl;The area’s population has declined an estimated 65 percent since 1970, according to the Audubon Society. Weidenfeld said much of the grassland is used for agriculture to produce corn, soybeans and wheat.
Holt, the owl researcher, said people who haven’t birdwatched in years are flocking to the snowy owls. But their future also looks bleak.
According to the 2022 State of the Birds report, the number of snowy owls has been reduced by half over the past 50 years. Holt has been tracking them in Montana and their breeding colonies in Canada for more than three decades.
Last year, he and his field research colleagues found zero nests. Every year you’ll hopefully see high lemming numbers (their food source) and the snowy owl population will rebound. You get there and you can’t find the nest.
Owl experts say they don’t know exactly what’s causing the snowy owl’s decline, but the American Bird Conservancy says climate change could affect their prey, as well as collisions with vehicles, communications towers, wind turbines and aircraft.
1. Preserve large, old trees
Weidenfeld said that for most owls, getting out of the trees is the most important thing people can do.
Most owls sleep and roost in tree cavities commonly found in old trees. Many owls, like the Screech Owl, will use large woodpecker holes or hollows from broken branches. Great horned owls do not use holes but build nests in trees.
Many people in the suburbs don’t like to leave old trees alone. Weidenfeld said they were worried they would fall.
Holt said there are many reasons people use to address obstacles. One of the last things they thought about was their importance to wildlife.
2. Leave some of the yard natural or messy
Many homeowners strive to keep their lawns spotless, free of weeds, leaves, brush, and clutter. But if you want owls, or any bird, in your backyard, that’s not what attracts them.
Some confusion is allowed. Allow some tree hooks; leave a corner of your field overgrown, Weidenfeld says. Try not to mow everything like a lawn.
If you can, put a small pile of brush in a corner away from your home, he says.
It will benefit birds and provide prey habitat for owls.
3. place a nest box
Holt says if you’re looking for a fun project to do with your kids, having a nest box in your home can be a great thing to do. If there is a lack of tree holes. Then you might see little owls talking about cuteness.
The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology has a great guide on building nest boxes for many species of owls or birds.
4. Avoid using pesticides and rodenticides
If you want to get rid of mice, owls are the perfect pest control method. The poisons can be fatal to rodents, but they also kill owls and hawks that prey on them.
Pest companies across the country continue to use second-generation rodenticides. They are anticoagulants and cause pests to bleed to death.
Weidenfeld said the rats will eat the rodenticide and then they won’t die immediately.
They become sick from ingesting poison and wander outdoors, making them easy targets for owls.
Owls absorb a large amount of poison by eating at least four rodents a night, and many more rodents are eaten during the breeding season.
If the poison doesn’t kill them, eventually they will be injured because they will bleed to death. (Owl) Any minor injury can cause internal bleeding. Weidenfeld said it was a very horrific death.
The EPA has banned their use in products sold to individual homeowners, but they are still allowed in the commercial market, including restaurants, farms or any business.
5. Use bird-safe glass or decals
Like Flacco, bird collisions with buildings are extremely common. The windows of our homes and office buildings reflect the sky and clouds, making them appear like safe passages. It is estimated that one billion birds die in this way every year.
One way to solve this problem is to put decals on the windows.
Most are transparent, allowing only birds to see the UV reflections that block them. Many birding groups, such as the American Bird Conservancy, are working with developers and state governments to build bird-safe buildings from the start. In fact, Flachos’ death prompted the New York State Senate to rename its Bird-Safe Construction Act the FLACO (Feathers Lives Count) Act. If passed, it would require new state buildings (as well as those undergoing significant renovations) to adopt bird-friendly designs.
6.Become a wildlife volunteer or citizen scientist
Wildlife rescue centers are looking for volunteers to help care for tens of thousands of injured and orphaned animals every year. and barbed wire.
Once they lose their wings or the sight of their eyes, they are difficult to release back into the wild. Some injured owls have become ambassadors showing the wonders of nature to schoolchildren.
You can also report an injured owl to a wildlife rehabilitator in your area – https://ahnow.org/
Grab some binoculars and become a citizen scientist. You can participate in the bird count through the Census. The Great Backyard Bird Count is held each February and the Christmas Bird Count is held each December.
Scientists rely on these numbers to determine how bird populations are doing year after year.
7. Donate to a bird charity
Birding and conservation organizations work every day to save bird species and protect more wildlife habitats.
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