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Releasing rehabilitated birds back in to the wild is an amazing experience! Adult birds are typically released back from the area from which they came. They know the hunting grounds well and may even have a mate waiting for them! Orphans can be released just about anywhere there is suitable habitat for them.
SNOWy Returns to the Tundra
05/01/2021
On December 1, 2020, we received a call from Topeka, IN about a snowy owl caught in a barbed wire fence. Bill Oberg brought the owl to our ICU, where she was found to be in good shape, except for a wound on her wing. Over the next 5 months, our vet, Dr. Riebe, vet tech Maraiah Russell, and our dedicated ICU staff monitored and treated her, cleaning and debriding the wound on her wing each week then, when her wing had sufficiently healed, watching and evaluating her in our flight pen to help her gain strength and, finally, imping her tail feathers so she could be released now, instead of...Read more
Another Screeching Success
03/06/2021
This beautiful little screech came to us on Dec. 9, 2020, victim of a probable car strike. It took 3 months, but he's back home now!Read more
Redtail Hightails it Home
03/06/2021
On March 6, 2021, we said our goodbyes to this beautiful red-tailed hawk, as rescuers Jill & Dan Devine brought him back to Geneva, IN, where he was found by two friends who were hiking. About 8 people were there besides Jill and Dan. The release was a birthday surprise for one of the gentlemen who had rescued this RTHA!Read more
Screech Goes Home
03/04/2021
This little guy came to us on December 15, 2020, with an eye injury. After nearly 3 months with us, he passed his flight and feeding tests, so it was time for him to go home. Volunteers Nancy and Kristen Wilder released him where he was found.Read more
Screeches Screeching Back at Home
12/26/2020
On 12-11-2020, our rescue line got a call from Monroeville, IN. The caller stated a little screech owl had been sitting outside his house not moving for a few hours. Bill & Sue drove over and picked it up from an extremely friendly gentleman. He indicated it just did not want to fly. They gave the caller our brochures and told him how to check out the status of this little screech owl online. He also indicated that they had seen a nesting pair in their woods and would like to have the bird released back in their area. After several days under observation to be sure there were no injuries...Read more
Bye, bye, GHOW
12/19/2020
On July 21, 2020, the rescue line received a call from Wolcottville, IN about an owl caught in a barbed wire fence. Rescuer Louie Lee picked the bird up and brought it to ICU. Luckily, he had no broken bones, but the soft tissue on his wing was very red and swollen. He spent several months with us, but was fully recovered in December and, on December 19, volunteer Kristen Werling released him near where he was found. The original finders were concerned about the owl eating their chickens and did not want to be present at the release nor did they want him released on their property. The owl...Read more
Happy Thanksgiving, Little Screech
11/26/2020
On November 19th, we received a call about an eastern screech owl that had been sitting on someone's front porch in Huntertown, Indiana. The homeowner said that the owl had been there for approximately six hours. Volunteer Emily reported that the owl wasn't startled when she came near him, and he seemed dazed. She was able to walk over to the owl and pick him up. Emily brought him to our ICU, where an examination revealed that the owl was healthy, and had no injuries, so we moved him to our rehabilitation enclosures to be observed for a few days to ensure it could fly well and find food on...Read more
Another Thanksgiving Screech Release
11/26/2020
On the night of November 18th, 2020, Jeanne found an Eastern Screech Owl lying on the ground below her window. We were contacted and volunteer Louie Lee went to rescue the bird the next morning. Upon his arrival, Jeanne had the owl contained in a cardboard box. The more Louie disturbed the bird, the more active it became. Louie transported the little guy to our ICU where (hooray!) no injuries were found. We kept him for a few days in one of our rehab enclosures, where he had the company of another screech owl that was brought in the same day, with similar symptoms. After we were sure he could...Read more
Another Barred Owl Goes Home
11/16/2020
On October 4, 2020, Paul S. saw this owl standing along the side of the road in Huntington, completely soaked. Paul picked up the owl and got it out of the rain, then called the sheriff, who gave him the phone number for our rescue line. Paul wanted the bird to get fast treatment, so he graciously offered to drive it from Huntington to our treatment facility in Huntertown. An examination revealed that the owl was young, and had sustained head trauma. It had blood it its right eye and some possible nerve damage to its right leg. Our ICU staff began treatment immediately, first by giving fluids...Read more
Bye, bye, Barred!
10/30/2020
On October 6, 2020, the hawkphone received a call from the South Bend Animal Shelter about a barred owl. Volunteer Gary Carlson took the bird to our treatment facility, where it appeared to have diminished vision in both eyes. After a week, he started to find food on his own in his enclosure, so he was moved to our rehabilitation facility and after he acclimated he was moved to our flight pen, where he showed us he could find food on his own. On October 30, Bill Oberg brought this little owl back to South Bend, where Gary released him close to where he was found.Read more
A Very Special Release - Great Horned Owl 09232020
10/28/2020
This adult Great Horned Owl has completed its recovery / rehabilitation and was released today very near to where it was picked up. As a special note, this release was sponsored by an individual in memory of Garry and Dawn's Son, ChrisRead more
Another Happy Ending!
10/25/2020
On September 24, 2020, the rescue line received a call from Mike in Churubusco. He had found a screech owl in the middle of a road and appeared dazed. They indicated he flew a little bit but came right back down and they were able to go pick him up. An exam showed a small abrasion in its left eye, which we treated with medication for pain and an antibiotic.Read more
Owl Stuck in Car Grille Goes Home
10/24/2020
On September 7, 2020, the hawkphone received a call from Abby. She said she had hit an owl the night before. She went home, and when she went out to her garage the next morning to go to work, she found a young great horned owl stuck in the grille of her car, still alive! We dispatched Bill Oberg to South Whitley to pick up the owl, and - after a struggle to get the bird out of Abby's grille - Bill brought the youngster to our ICU where, miraculously, he was found to have some neurological issues due to hanging from the grille all night, but otherwise his injuries were minor. Over the next few...Read more
A Triple Release!
09/16/2020
On September 16, 2020, three great horned owl youngsters were released back to the wild in South Whitley, IN. The three came to us as babies, and grew up together. All flew high and away. It was a beautiful sight!Read more
07272020 Red-Tailed Hawk Has Left the Building
08/31/2020
A mass text went out Monday morning to collect a bird that had been found and confined in Goshen, Indiana. I must have had the fastest thumbs texting back that I can leave in 10 minutes. Turns out the route to Goshen was plagued with detours and GPS issues but I located the correct address 1.5 hours later. The bird, an adult Red Tail Hawk, was confined in a cool dark room. He appeared to have injuries to one leg and one wing. This bird came to us very lethargic. An initial exam revealed no injuries. We treated this adult hawk with medication for possible pain and gave it food and fluids.Read more
