How to Weigh a Large Bird

A Great Horned Owl is wrapped in a loose burrito of beige towel. Her ear tufts are flat, making her head look particularly rounded. Her top eyelids are lowered a little, and she has a prominent brow, accented by light brown feathers, giving her yellow eyes an overall perturbed yet stern expression. One pupil is dilated more than the other, which (fun fact!) is something owls can do independently, allowing them to control the amount of light each eye receives.
A pair of fuzzy owl feet are bunched together and talons curled-inwards, rising up and out from a bundle of towel. The rest of the owl is obscured, so it's just feet, emerging from a white polystyrene box on a set of electronic scales.

Photos: NIAMH CARROLL-MARSH and MEGAN ERICKSON

Original post – 12 Dec 2024
by MARS Wildlife Rescue

located in Merville, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦
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Original text:

⚖️ Ever wondered how we weigh our larger birds?

Modelled for us by some of our recent owl patients, we weigh our larger birds by safely wrapping them up in a towel (we like to call this ‘burrito-ing’ the patient) and gently placing them claws up in a box. This is all placed on a scale, and we can get accurate weights to help monitor health, while keeping stress levels as low as possible. While it seems like it could be extra stressful for the bird, many birds are able to relax once visual stimulation has been reduced.

Link to donate to MARS Wildlife Rescue for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo virginianusGreat Horned OwlWiki link

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