SORCO will be releasing a Long Eared Owl, Sunday, July 3 at 2 PM. We will meet at the info pull off on Road 22 which is just North of Osoyoos. The pull off is adjacent to the Okanagan River channel.

Long Eared Owls are rare visitors to our centre as we have had only 6 since SORCO started in 1987.

Baldy came to us in early December of 2009. He had been hit by a transport truck near Hedley. The local truck driver, who was unable to stop, called his wife to collect the bird who in turn contacted SORCO. The driver’s neighbour caught the eagle the next day and brought it to SORCO. Baldy ended up with a fractured wing and some internal injuries. Baldy was in a handling pen for a couple of months then we transferred him to our large flight pen. The flight pens are larger wired holding areas approximately 50′ long with large perch structures, at either end. It is here where we let the birds strengthen their muscles and especially with wing injuries a place where they rehabilitate themselves. We released Baldy back in Hedley. Any adult birds that we get we like to release them in the area where they were found. All the people involved in Baldy’s rescue gathered, including the truck driver and all bid farewell to Baldy. Bald Eagles mate for life and can live up to forty years. Hopefully, with a successful release Baldy has met up with his mate and his familiar surroundings.

Here are a few photos of the owl release at Trout Creek in Summerland.
Over 100 people came out to see the release of 2 Great Horned Owls.
Greg Byron gave an informative talk on owls & the important role they play in balancing our ecosystem.
Ken Fujino, SORCO Manager, provided background on the rehabilitated owls & conducted their release back into the wild.

Late on Thursday afternoon a golfer sliced a ball off #10 tee box into the big willow just across the creek & the ball struck one of the resident owls.

In the words of one of the golfers:

“At first we assumed we had hit one of the crows as it was a good size. Upon reaching the pond I noticed a rather large bird which had actually landed in the pond, and quickly realized with the big yellow eyes looking at us, it was one of the owls. We managed to lift him out of the water, only to have him jump back into the pond where he proceeded to use a breast/wing stroke to swim across the pond. Quite amazing to see. He got into the reeds on the far side of the pond. We lifted him out one more time, and that is where the rescue crew came into play.”

James called me as I am involved with SORCO, the owl rescue & rehabilitation organization. Pat & I went to the Club & together with James & some green fee players we managed to capture him & put him into a cage. One VERY wet owl! We brought him home & he dried out over night. On Friday morning he seemed fine so we took him to the Club to put him back in the same tree. Everything seemed to be fine until I took the towel off. He just he glided down to the ground, took a few hops & went right into the creek! We had to start all over again so Craig got into the creek & with the help of Dan, Pat & some members we managed to capture him again. This time I took him to the SORCO rehab centre near Oliver where he has been dried out & fed. He will be thoroughly examined by a vet to ensure no serious damage has been done.

Late Sunday he is reported to be eating fine.

Here are some photos of the saga. Enjoy.

How he looked on May 12th
This is a photo I took about a month ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday June 10th Events
1. First look

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Swimming. It looks so easy for those ducks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. James helping. Really, he was helping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Captured! Anyone got a hair dryer?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday June 11th Events
1. Going back home. Think I look like E.T.?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Craig & Ray to the rescue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Craig the hero! Wet to the waist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Busted! Now I’m on my way to SORCO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you give a hoot??? Want to help?

We will release “Shadow” back at the Club when he has fully recovered.
However, before he is released “Shadow” will probably need about $500 to cover veterinarian care, food, medical & general operating expenses. SORCO is a registered non-profit charitable organization that relies entirely on public donations to cover operating expenses.

You can help by donating directly by mailing a cheque to:
SORCO
PO Box 1166
Oliver BC
VOH ITO

A charitable donation tax receipt will be mailed directly to you.
OR
Others have given me donations directly.

I will ensure the funds get to SORCO & that you get your tax receipt.

Thank you for all your interest in the rescue & for your financial support.

I will keep you informed as to when the release will take place

On Dec 14 2009, SORCO received a call from a gentleman who was travelling from Needles to Summerland, B.C. at approximately 9:30 p.m. He passed by an object in the middle of the highway and upon realizing it was a golden eagle, returned and threw his jacket over the bird putting it in the back of his vehicle. He then contacted SORCO and arrived at approximately 11:30 p.m.

When I checked the condition of the eagle there was blood coming from the mouth and nostril and it was then that I informed the gentleman the chances of the eagle surviving was very slim and that we could only do our best at treating the bird.

The next morning when I went to check on his condition the eagle was lying flat on the bottom of the cage with a small pool of blood under the beak and it did not move when I opened the door of the cage. Thinking that the eagle had died as a result of the injuries, I closed the door and went on with my other work.

The next day my daughter came to help at the clinic. I asked her to bag and tag the eagle as all raptors that don’t make it have to be turned in to the Ministry of Environment. I then heard her exclaim, “DAD the eagle is alive and is standing up!” Sure enough the eagle was standing in the cage.

We immediately started to work on rehabilitating the eagle and five months later the eagle was at the point where it would be released back into the wild.

It is important to have the exact location where a raptor is found when injured, which was fifteen kilometers east of Cherryville. I wanted to release it back to where it was initially found as an adult that would be his familiar home territory and his mate may still be there.

On May 15, 2010 we decided that the eagle was ready for release. We transported the eagle to the location where it was found, locating a small side road so that it would be off the highway. Normally, pictures are taken at the release of all raptors however, this raptor must have known it was back to his familiar home territory because as soon as his hood was taken off he wanted to fly. I could not hold on any longer. It was a wonderful and very rewarding release for all of us, to see the results of the hard work and determination to protect and nurture these animals back into their environment.