GREFA – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Sat, 12 Sep 2026 02:59:19 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png GREFA – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 Orphaned Long-Eared Owl https://owlsintowels.org/orphaned-long-eared-owl/ https://owlsintowels.org/orphaned-long-eared-owl/#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=4710
A young Long-Eared Owl is partially wrapped in and supine upon a towel patterned butter-yellow and white. His head is turned to face the rehabilitator off-camera, who wears white nitrile gloves, and pinches the owl's ankles between fingers to keep him immobile for treatment. With luck this will also keep the carer safe from the sharp talons spread anisodactyl like a trio of upholstery needles bottom of frame.

An orphaned Long-Eared Owl chick was dehydrated on admission. Special care and diet will help him grow until he is ready to return to the wild.

Original post – 03 Mar 2026
by GREFA Wildlife Rescue Center
a.k.a Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat

located in Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain 🇪🇸
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text in Spanish:

Ingresa el primer volantón de la temporada en GREFA🪺✨️

La primera cría de rapaz del año ya está en el hospital de GREFA: se trata de un volantón de búho chico que llegó ligeramente deshidratado y ya ha recibido los primeros cuidados en nuestra clínica 🩺💊

No es casualidad que se trate de una rapaz noctura, puesto que muchas de estas especies inician la época de cría antes que otras rapaces🦉

Tras realizarle una revisión completa y comenzar con las pautas iniciales de tratamiento, ha pasado al departamento de Huérfanos, donde está recibiendo alimentación y cuidados específicos para crecer y desarrollarse con normalidad hasta que esté preparado para regresar al medio natural 🌿🐛

Es el primero… ¡pero no será el último! 🐣
Con la primavera comienzan a ingresar cientos de pollos huérfanos de distintas especies que necesitan atención especializada, tratamientos, alimentación frecuente y un seguimiento constante hasta poder volver a la naturaleza 🌳🌞

Empieza una de las épocas más intensas del año para nuestro equipo, ¡estamos preparados para darles una segunda oportunidad a todos ellos! 💪🪶

DeepL English translation:

The first fledgling of the season arrives at GREFA🪺✨️

The first raptor chick of the year is already at the GREFA hospital: it’s a little owl fledgling that arrived slightly dehydrated and has already received initial care at our clinic 🩺💊

It’s no coincidence that this is a nocturnal bird of prey, since many of these species begin their breeding season earlier than other birds of prey🦉

After undergoing a thorough examination and beginning the initial treatment plan, he has been transferred to the Orphans Department, where he is receiving specialised nutrition and care to help him grow and develop normally until he is ready to return to the wild 🌿🐛

This is the first one… but it won’t be the last! 🐣
With the arrival of spring, hundreds of orphaned chicks of various species begin to arrive, all in need of specialised care, medical treatment, frequent feedings, and constant monitoring until they’re ready to return to the wild 🌳🌞

One of the busiest times of the year is beginning for our team – we’re ready to give them all a second chance! 💪🪶

The youngster now looks directly at camera, with beak and bright lava-orange eyes wide open, expressing alarm. He's covered in ashy-white fuzz typical of nestlings, and could be mistaken for either very cute dryer lint, or strawberries after 24 hrs in the fridge.

Link to donate to GREFA Wildlife Rescue Center for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Asio otusLong-eared OwlWiki link



Correction 12 Sep 2026: This is a Long-Eared Owl chick, not a Eurasian Eagle-Owl chick as first thought. They’re very similar at this young age!

Top panel: Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) owlets in the nest. — Photo: WildMedia/Shutterstock.com Bottom panel: Four Long-Eared Owl (Asio otis) owlets stand on a tree branch at sunrise in Minsk. —Photo: CFP Both panels show owlets with orange eyes and fuzzy white feathers, virtually indistinguishable from muppets.
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