Ravensbeard Wildlife Center – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:30:22 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png Ravensbeard Wildlife Center – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 Rocky the Xmas Owl https://owlsintowels.org/rocky-the-xmas-owl/ https://owlsintowels.org/rocky-the-xmas-owl/#respond Wed, 24 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2862 Rocky the Northern Saw-whet Owl is snugly wrapped in an orange knitted scarf (or possibly a sleeve or collar) held by Ellen Kalish at Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.

Original post – 18 Nov 2020
by Ravensbeard Wildlife Center
located in Saugerties, New York, US
Website | Instagram | Facebook

‘Twas the month before xmas in upstate New York,
when Ellen Kalish had a curious talk.

“Can you help with a bird?” asked the voice on the phone,
“Yes we can,” Ellen said in a welcoming tone.

The caller explained that her husband found loose
an owl on the branch of a Norwegian Spruce.

But this tree? ‘Twas uncommon, no ordinary stock.
‘Twas picked for a place. And that place? 30 Rock!

Indeed the stowaway owl had travelled 170 miles (270 km) inside the giant 75 foot (23 metre) Spruce tree destined for 30 Rockefeller Plaza to become a centrepiece for that year’s Christmas celebrations.

8x Rockfeller Christmas trees through the years, each with brilliant decorations and lights.
The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is an icon of NYC festivities, decorated in spectacular fashion each year stretching back to 1931.
Workers outside Rockfeller Center bring the 2020 tree into position using a crane and wires
An illustration from the book 'The Christmas Owl' depicting a tree worker in hard hat and bright yellow clothing, reaching for the small owl on a branch of the Norway Spruce, with the text "There's an owl in here!"
Photo of said tree worker in hard hat and bright yellow clothing, holding the owl with a pair of gloves
Another illustration, this time the worker placing the owl in a cardboard box on the seat of a vehicle.
2x illustrations. The first is the worker travelling snowy roads in his red vehicle. The second depicts him standing outside his vehicle to meet Ellen (having arrived in a separate vehicle) and to deliver the box containing the owl inside.
The owl’s journey across New York State

Ellen arranged to meet the tree-worker halfway, and upon securing the precious owl cargo, she peeked in the box to see this little face looking up at her.

The Saw-whet Owl stares up at the camera, perfectly central within the cardboard box. Some small branches covered in green needles are loosely nested beneath. The owl's eyes are piercing yellow.

“I was thrilled that he was alert,” Ellen was quoted saying by NBC, “and not just a little heap at the bottom of the box.”

“He/she was a little Saw-whet owl,” she later posted on the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center Facebook Page, adding that they are the smallest owls in the region. And although tiny, it would be unusual for a baby owl to appear in winter. This was an adult – dehydrated and hungry but otherwise unharmed.

Safe at the Center, Ellen gave him fluids and fed him all the mice he would eat. He had not eaten or drank anything for 3 days, so he got his fill in. She reported “His eyes are bright and seems relatively in good condition with all he’s been through.”

It was decided the owl needed a name: Rockefeller, or “Rocky” for short.

Wide eyes. The owl is indoors, held by Ellen wearing a black nitrile/plastic gloves, and pinching the owls legs between thumb and forefinger.
Rocky sits on a blanket inside a pet carrier box. The blanket is white with patterns of pink flowers and butterflies. The top half is well ventilated with holes
Another view of Rocky, indoors, and held by Ellen with a black glove
Close up of Rocky, head in focus against a blurred background. There's some chromatic aberration (green-purple edging) around the subject, giving an artistic flair to the picture. He has little bunched up feet.

In the following days, Rocky’s x-rays came back all clear. And in a small twist, the specialists came back clear on one other matter: Rocky’s gender.

Rocky was a girl!

Meanwhile, news about Rocky the Xmas Owl was going viral. Messages and donations poured in to Ravensbeard from all over. Naturally, merchandise followed: cards, mugs, t-shirts, ornaments, and eventually a book. This was a huge boon for the Center, being a small non-profit and as Ellen put it, “in desperate need of a permanent home.”

Rocky's face on a patterned disc hanging from a xmas tree. He's wrapped in his original orange scarf/sleeve
A Rocky figurine hanging from a xmas tree. The orange sleeve is shaped like a sock or stocking
An illustration of Rocky on a coffee mug with the text "Rockefeller the owl"
Cover of 'The Christmas Owl' with the subtitle "Based on the True Story of a Little Owl Named Rockefeller". The book sits on a wooden platform with greenery behind, and a small birds sits bottom right.

Ellen posted diligently to a world hungry for Rocky updates. A week after being found, Rocky was in an outdoor enclosure acclimating to the chilly November air and getting ready for release.

“We have exciting new to share!” Ellen reported. “[Rockefeller] has been cleared by specialists for take off.” The team had scouted the perfect release spot: a quiet cluster of conifers that offered plenty of cover from the elements and predators.

“Rocky will continue on her migratory journey south today at dusk. The release will happen at sunset so that she can find safe cover by nightfall.”

Ravensbeard soon posted a video of the clearing, showing Ellen lifting Rocky from the carrier and raising the owl on an outstretched arm.

“It was a perfect release. She sat on my hand for a few minutes, scoped out her surroundings and flew beautifully to the nearest pine tree.”

Ellen raises Rocky on an outstretched arm in a wooded outdoor scene.
Rocky now free, perches on the branch of a nearby tree.
An illustrated landscape of snowy trees aglow in the light of a dusky horizon, in tones of yellow peach pink and blue. Ellen stands, scarf flowing, arms out and palms up, next to an empty carrier box, having released Rocky. The owl spreads her wings over the sunset forest. City buildings are silhouetted in the distance beyond

“After about 5 minutes, she decided to leave. Saw-whet owls are extremely nocturnal, meaning they are rarely seen during the day so they don’t have many encounters with humans. Therefore, humans are not seen as a threat. They also don’t flush easily so you can get quite close, if you are lucky enough to spot one.”

For those willing and able, please consider sending a donation to Ravensbeard Wildlife Center. Your support will help them continue their work ensuring birds like Rockefeller are properly cared for before returning to the wild.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Aegolius acadicusNorthern Saw-whet OwlWiki link
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