Long eared Owl release for Shades of Hope.

SHADES OF HOPE WILDLIFE REFUGE
(words taken from SOH page)

WHO WHO WHOOO IS THIS??
Looking much like a miniature Great Horned Owl, this smaller raptor is in fact a beautiful Long-eared Owl. They live in densely wooded ...areas throughout Canada and usually migrate into the southern States in the winter. This little fellow was found on the Allen Expressway in Toronto last week. After suffering from a collision with a car he is now at SOH where he was thoroughly inspected by Dr. Sherri.

Our little friend is already recovering nicely from his trauma and we expect he will return home soon.


Thanks Shades of Hope for making this possible.
Our Long-eared Owl was given the OK to return to his home in north Toronto. Released at dusk last night, the little fellow was obviously happy... to be back where he belonged! With Spring here and available food more plentiful, we hope he does not choose roadsides again for a hunting ground.

 On March 13 he was released.  Here are some of the shots from his release.

Sara and I went up to Shades of Hope to pick up the Long eared owl.  He was really beautiful. Took him back where he was found.  The release went really well.  He landed in the first tree then went higher and higher up the tree.  Finally he flew just at dusk to the next tree over. 

Look at this beauty.

RETURNING HOME!!
 

Crow building nest March 21 2016

At the local park for the first time I watched a crow breaking off branches to make a nest. Really tough work for the crows.

Has a branch in mouth

Hard to break them  

Putting all his strength to do this.

Success and off to the nest

The start of the crows nest. 
Hopefully I will see baby crows this year.
 

Peregrine Falcon Nest March 21, 2016

The peregrine nest of Quest and Skye



I arrive at nest to see Skye screaming at the turkey vulture.  He was off the nest box and quickly escorted him out. 

Once encounter was over Skye was back on the nest ledge

Sky

Quest was on the top of the building. It was amazing to watch her moving around in the wind.  And yes this is a poop shot . Great colour.

Quest takes to the air and quickly heads back to the nest box. 

What a beautiful bird

Meanwhile on the nest ledge Skye enjoys the sun.

Quest was so fast and directly in the nest box.  Skye decides it is time to go.

He just steps off the ledge and is gone.  Love the shadow.

This is hard to see but you can see a outline of Quests head and tail as she is laying down on nest.

Skye takes off around the building and towards the 401.



15 minutes of amazing peregrine watching.