African Raptor Centre – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:17:50 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png African Raptor Centre – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 Lousy Feather Condition https://owlsintowels.org/lousy-feather-condition/ https://owlsintowels.org/lousy-feather-condition/#respond Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=4243 A Spotted Eagle Owl is wrapped in a plain cornflower blue towel. His flattened "ear" tufts and an ovoid shape gives him the silhouette of a rugby ball with a tricorne. And with mouth open, tongue raised and head tilted slightly back, his expression could easily be associated with laughter, but if we're being honest, that should be prepended by "mans". Either way the rehabber is about to bear the brunt of it.

Original post – 05 Mar 2026
by African Raptor Centre

located in Ilanga, South Africa πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

We see a lot of spotted eagle owls coming through Raptor Rescue Rehabilitation Centre, but occasionally one shows up that is fairly unusual. This spottie has extreme feather damage on one wing! We can’t be sure of exactly what happened, but prolonged heavy rain and repeated wet–dry cycles can cause feather vanes to lose their structural integrity. Once the microscopic barbules fail to interlock, the feathers begin to fray and split. For an owl, whose survival depends on silent, efficient flight, this is devastating. Reduced lift and increased noise compromise hunting success, leading to rapid loss of condition.

Extensive damage to the owl's wing

Compounding the problem, this owl was heavily burdened with bird lice. While lice are common in wild birds, heavy infestations further weaken feather structure and worsen deterioration. The infestation has now been treated.

The shafts of the feathers remain intact, but the vane damage is severe enough to prevent effective flight. This owl will remain in rehabilitation until it undergoes moult and completes new feather growth, restoring proper function.

Thanks to Rene from Assagay this bird has a second chance!

xo owlsintowels

πŸ’›πŸ¦‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo africanusSpotted Eagle-OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/lousy-feather-condition/feed/ 0 Fuzzy Fledgling Found https://owlsintowels.org/fuzzy-fledgling-found/ https://owlsintowels.org/fuzzy-fledgling-found/#respond Mon, 13 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2064 A Spotted Eagle Owlet is contained in a plain blue towel. No human is visible - this is pure owl-in-a-towel material. The owl has yellow eyes, a black beak, and brown to black plumage, with cream highlights mottled throughout. There's a fuzziness to her feathers, a product of her youth. The bridge above her beak is accented with light feathers looking like a pair of inverted parentheses ")(".

13th of Owltober!

Original post – 05 Oct 2024
by African Raptor Centre

located in Ilanga, South Africa πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Eagle owl chicks are often seen on the ground. This is normal behaviour, and the parents are in usually in close attendance, feeding and protecting their baby. As long as dogs and cats are kept well away, they will fledge within a week or so.

This little one was found on the ground at a home in Pietermaritzburg, not moving around as expected. A thorough examination at Dr Ollie Tatham, showed no fractures, and we are optimistic about his recovery.

Link to donate to African Raptor Centre for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

πŸ’›πŸ¦‰

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo africanusSpotted Eagle-OwlWiki link
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