North Island – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:19:31 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png North Island – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 Model Owl in a Towel https://owlsintowels.org/model-owl-in-a-towel/ https://owlsintowels.org/model-owl-in-a-towel/#respond Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=4608 A Ruru / Morepork is an exemplary owl in a towel, wrapped in plain white fabric like a burrito, except instead of rice, beans and salad you get a live bird. His/her eyes are the colour of rich amber, looking alert and slightly left of camera. Feathers are brown like a medium roast coffee, with accents of cream and caramel around the forehead and chest. Reflected in the owl's pupils are a trio of ceiling lights: bands of light that narrow with perspective and appear arched due to the curvature of the owl's eyes, which altogether makes them look like WiFi symbols 🛜v🛜.

Original post – 24 Aug 2026
by Wildbase Hospital

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Facebook

Original text:

One lucky ruru!🦉
This ruru was admitted to Wildbase Hospital from Hunterville after a window collision. Thankfully, no major injuries were found. After just 10 days of treatment, this patient is already ready to begin building flight fitness as it continues its rehabilitation.
We’re hopeful it won’t be long before this beautiful manu is ready to return to the wild. 💚

For those willing and able, please click the following link to donate to Wildbase Hospital and select Wildbase Research Fund under Designation.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/model-owl-in-a-towel/feed/ 0 What a Transformation https://owlsintowels.org/what-a-transformation/ https://owlsintowels.org/what-a-transformation/#respond Fri, 06 Feb 2026 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=3343 An intense stare from this young yellow-eyed Ruru in a blue towel tells us he has seen Some Stuff.

Photo SHANNA ROSE, Team Leader at The Nest Te Kōhanga

This resilient Ruru / Morepork was carefully treated for flaky skin and readied for release back to where he was found, thanks to brilliant work and coordination between Wellington Zoo and Wildbase Recovery.

Original post – 28 Apr 2021
by The Nest Te Kōhanga at Wellington Zoo

located in Wellington, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

in coordination with Wildbase Recovery

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

and Wildbase Hospital

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Facebook



Original text by Wellington Zoo:

It’s an exciting afternoon for our Vet team at The Nest Te Kōhanga as we prepare to release this gorgeous Ruru back to the wild!
You may remember this wee face as this Ruru recently became an internet sensation after needing to have a special bath at Wildbase to clear some flaky skin.

A grid of four shots of the Ruru after a bath, looking thoroughly bedraggled in a blue towel. His Sid Vicious plumage is blackened by the wetness, and parted on the chest to expose skin like uncooked turkey. Feathers are matted and shrink-wrapped to his bone structure, and yet he's still cute as a button. A Cronenbergian horror with Disney eyes. The final panel shows him post-blow-dry and resuming his original puffy shape, like a feathery butternut squash.

Photos Wildbase Recovery

This little manu [flying creature] first came into our care as a nestling on Boxing Day after he was found on the ground with wounds on his feet and he had a fractured wing tip. The Ruru responded well to treatments and supportive care and headed off to our friends at Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery earlier in January, where he could be with a group of other baby Ruru.

Fluffy and at ease, the Ruru is perched on a branch in an indoor aviary, casting a shadow on the white wall behind. His chest plumage is mesmerising - wavy lines in tones of cream, tan, and roasted coffee brown. He's looking MUCH better, ready for release.

Photo SHANNA ROSE, Team Leader at The Nest Te Kōhanga

The Ruru is now considered to be a sub-adult and he’s ready to spread his wings! Our Vet team will be heading out to Eastbourne this afternoon, where he was originally found, and they’ll be releasing him at dusk.

Links to donate (for those willing and able):

Donate to Wellington Zoo
Donate to Wildbase Recovery
Donate to Wildbase Hospital

NB: If donating to Wildbase Hospital, click the link and select Wildbase Research Fund under Designation.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/what-a-transformation/feed/ 0 Rescued in Remuera https://owlsintowels.org/rescued-in-remuera/ https://owlsintowels.org/rescued-in-remuera/#respond Sat, 10 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=3013
Video Transcription

Two clips of a young Ruru Morepork. The first shows him bundled in a tea towel on a countertop, with curious yellow eyes following the videographer. The twitchy blink on his little face is everything. In the second clip he’s disrobed of his towel, standing in a clear bowl packed with a few sheets of industrial blue paper towels, and placed atop an electronic scale reading 143g. He stretches his body upwards to survey the clinic surroundings, pupils in a state of flux dilating and contracting in response to each new stimuli, and expressing a vacant look not really sure what to make of it all. His feathers are tipped with faint white fuzz typical of a youngster.

Original post – 08 Dec 2025
by BirdCare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Original text:

Incoming! 🦉💚

Over the weekend, the season’s first orphaned Ruru was admitted to BirdCare Aotearoa’s nursery!

This little one was found grounded and lost in a very populated area in Remuera, near a school and a busy intersection – not an ideal place for a young Ruru to fledge.

With the risks of passing traffic and potential human interference, this youngster was gently rescued by a kind community member and brought in for expert care.

We’re happy to share that patient 25-1846 passed its health check with flying colours and is settling in beautifully. With some food, rest, and flight practice, we’re confident it won’t be long before this feisty youngster can be released in a safe location. 💚

If you’d like to support the growth and recovery of Ruru – and the many other orphaned species currently in our care – please consider donating

Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/rescued-in-remuera/feed/ 0 Morley the Morepork https://owlsintowels.org/morley-the-morepork/ https://owlsintowels.org/morley-the-morepork/#respond Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://127.0.0.1/wordpress/?p=2742
Video transcription

Morley is wrapped in an astroturf-green towel, held by Judy out of frame on a forest pathway. Morley nibbles angrily at the towel and then the footage cross-fades to a close-up of his face, somewhat less-agitated and with a better view of his alert green-yellow eyes. The final shots are him in slow-motion departing the confines of the towel. He takes flight to a tall bank of vegetation in the mid distance – flapping eagerly over the heads of onlookers and returning to the wilderness where he will spend the rest of his days.

Morley, a young Ruru / Morepork native to New Zealand, is released back to the wild by rehabilitator Judy Fentress, of Judy’s Bird Nursery.

Judy was featured in previous posts Part 1 and Part 2, as well as a Department of Conservation (DOC) blog post celebrating Judy’s many decades of dedication to New Zealand native birds.

Morley inside the towel
Morley inside the towel
Morley outside the towel
Morley outside the towel


The owl’s release was part of Project Ruru, an event held at The Sculpture Park next to the Waitakaruru Stream – which incidentally means ‘owl by the river’ in Te reo Māori. The event collaborates with Wingspan and Forest & Bird to feature 15 hidden owl sculptures and a variety of educational activities during the school holidays. It also helps protect owls from predators by installing handmade nesting boxes around the region. By combining art with conservation, the project seeks to educate visitors while ensuring safer habitats for the owls to thrive.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link


]]> https://owlsintowels.org/morley-the-morepork/feed/ 0 Ball of Fluff https://owlsintowels.org/ball-of-fluff/ https://owlsintowels.org/ball-of-fluff/#respond Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://127.0.0.1/wordpress/?p=2738 A juvenile Ruru / Morepork still has his baby fluff - thin wisps of white feathers around his head that make him look like an old man. His eyes are wide, yellow, and lacking any thought behind them. Some darker markings above look like raised eyebrows, as if he's especially shocked by the featherless bipeds around him. He's wrapped in a blue tea towel, held to the chest of Judy the rehabilitator behind.

Pictured is a Morepork / Ruru being cared for by Judy Fentress. This one is very young and still has his baby fluff.

The same photo cropped and enlarged to the baby Ruru's fuzzy face.

Judy is featured in our 3-part series of posts (see Part 1 and Part 3), celebrating her years of dedication to New Zealand native birds in the Waikato region.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/ball-of-fluff/feed/ 0 Shout Out to Judy https://owlsintowels.org/shout-out-to-judy/ https://owlsintowels.org/shout-out-to-judy/#respond Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://127.0.0.1/wordpress/?p=2734 Close-up of a Ruru's face wrapped in a coral pink towel. His eyes are yellow, wide and bulging. The photographer's hand is reflected in one pupil. The owl's chin feathers are a little matted, possibly from his latest meal. His beak is a pale olive-grey and looks like a miniature archetype of the plague doctor, but with nostrils for eyes.

This is a Ruru / Morepork, a native New Zealand owl. This little guy was posted to the r/owlsintowels subreddit1 by user NewZealandDunc who noted the Ruru was being looked after by Judy Fentress.

Judy deserves a particular mention. She’s the name behind ‘Judy’s Bird Nursery’, a volunteer rescue in the Waikato region for rehabilitating wildlife and helping native birds return to the wild. This is Part 1 in a series of posts highlighting her dedication to New Zealand wildlife (see also Part 2 and Part 3).

However, after many years of service, Judy is having to wind down nursery operations. Managing a facility of this nature requires 24/7 availability, a continuous supply of food and medication for the birds, and power for the incubators. It also incurs significant expenses in vet bills, travel and ongoing maintenance.

A blog post2 from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC) estimated Judy was spending $20,000 NZD a year to run the sanctuary, mostly from her own pocket due to lack of external funding.

At nearly 80 years old, Judy is finding it increasingly difficult to meet these physical and financial demands. And with no successor available to take on the mantle, she is only able to offer limited services. The original poster NZDunc notes “She loves the birds but she’s getting too old for it. Hopefully there’s someone qualified out there.”

Judy is quoted as saying:

“I am no longer taking garden birds, only natives now. That’s all that has changed. I need help and money and someone joining me to do something like this. It requires a DOC permit and a lot of time and energy”

The nursery represents a special era of wildlife rescue in the Waikato, and a huge debt of gratitude is owed to Judy Fentress for her decades of outstanding work. Her selfless and long-standing commitment has had a real and lasting impact on local bird populations, earning her something of a legendary status in the community.

Go well Judy, you’ve earned a Waikato Draught.


Bonus video of Judy releasing a Ruru at The Sculpture Park 3 along the Waitakaruru Stream – which incidentally means ‘owl by the river’:

Video transcription:

Judy Fentress unwraps a pink towel to release a Ruru in a daylight forest setting. The video is slowed down, and the owl beats his wings a full 5 times before leaving frame. The last half second is a close-up of Judy’s face, beaming a smile a she watches the owl take flight.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link

Sources and references
  1. Owls in Towels subreddit – “It’s a Ruru (Morepork), native to New Zealand” by u/NewZealandDunc. Posted 26 Nov 2025.
    https://reddit.com/r/owlsintowels/comments/1p6uq0f ↩︎
  2. Department of Conservation Blog – “Judy Fentress: Dedicated to helping our native birds in their time of need” by Carisse Enderwick. Posted 11 Apr 2023.
    https://blog.doc.govt.nz/2023/04/11/judy-fentress/ ↩︎
  3. Waikato Community Noticeboard – “Judy Fentress released this little ruru yesterday.” Posted 11 Sep 2024.
    https://fb.com/reel/1157551751980406 ↩︎
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/shout-out-to-judy/feed/ 0 Happy Owloween! https://owlsintowels.org/happy-owloween/ https://owlsintowels.org/happy-owloween/#respond Fri, 31 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2404 It’s the 31st of Owltober and we’ve saved one of the best for last: A Ruru Owl looking especially bedraggled after a bath (for a skin condition). Having spent a few hours under the blow dryer, the before and after pics are night and day…

A Ruru Owl is thoroughly bedraggled, wrapped in a blue towel after a bath. His cat-like eyes are fixed on the camera, wide and yellow. Feathers around the chest are matted and parted to expose skin that looks like, well... uncooked chicken breast. Green plastic boxes appear on a concrete slab behind.

Original post – 31 Mar 2021
by Wildbase Recovery

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

in coordination with Wildbase Hospital:

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Facebook

Original text:

Wet Wednesday all round for us in Palmerston North!!🤣

This morepork is with us for rehabilitation but we found it had scurfy/flaky skin. A sticky tape sample revealed a lot of cocci (bacteria), so today this ruru had a bubble bath (which he was NOT pleased about😅).

A full body shot of the wet owl, sans towel. His Sid Vicious plumage is blackened by the wetness, and some barbs are stuck to the the feather shafts, creating gaps in the wings that look like see-through ribs. The photo really is something: imagine a yellow-eyed Koosh ball on a swivel, sticking out from a tarred turkey carcass. A truly bizarre and sorry-looking creature, but if it's any assurance the owl is fine. His legs are bowed with tan-feathered toes splayed out below. He stands upon a white net inside a green plastic box, with wooden perches around the edge.
Another angle of this Cronenbergian horror with Disney eyes. The owl's leg stance is sturdier, and if you ignore the whole looking-like-a-drowned-abomination thing, he's far more photogenic and you know what? Kinda badass. Like a character-select screen in an RPG. What's interesting is we don't often see the shape of an owl's neck, because the head feathers typically merge into the shoulder like a lumpy snowman. But here, with all the feathers matted and shrink-wrapped to the owl's bone structure, he appears almost humanoid.

We washed him with Chlorhexidine to deal to the bacteria, then rinsed clean. This is a similar technique we use for oiled birds and have the set up to do it.

After a few hours under the blow dryers he is looking spiffy and ready to try out his clean feathers and skin back in our rehab aviaries at Wildbase Recovery with the hopes of releasing soon🤞

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link


P.S. We have a calendar for the 31 days of Owltober!

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/happy-owloween/feed/ 0 Marshmall-owl https://owlsintowels.org/marshmall-owl/ https://owlsintowels.org/marshmall-owl/#respond Wed, 22 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2241 A Ruru Morepork is wrapped in a marshmallow-pink towel, held to the chest of a rehabilitator. The owl's eyes are wide and amber, and the silhouette of the photographer is reflected in the owl's black pupils. The rehabber wears a navy blue fleece with zipper teeth that coincidentally match the towel in colour. A black computer keyboard sits on a desk top right.

22nd of Owltober!

Original post – 10 Apr 2024
by Bird Rescue Whanganui Manawatu
North Island, New Zealand
Website | Facebook

A Ruru Morepork in a marshmall-owl pink towel was treated by Bird Rescue Whanganui Manawatu. The owl was found under a car at Rotokawau Virginia Lake, New Zealand 🇳🇿🥝

Link to donate to Bird Rescue Whanganui Manawatu for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/marshmall-owl/feed/ 0 Springtime Appeal https://owlsintowels.org/springtime-appeal/ https://owlsintowels.org/springtime-appeal/#respond Sat, 04 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1924

4th of Owltober!

While most of you are experiencing Fall/Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s Springtime in New Zealand which means wildlife hospitals are inundated with lots of baby birds. BirdCare Aotearoa in Auckland is currently running a fundraising campaign for its busiest season of the year, which incidentally was reported in today’s Radio New Zealand article:

Auckland bird hospital expects hundreds of patients as breeding season begins

BCA report they have “already cared for 42 Ruru this year. Common reasons for admission include cat attacks and entrapment in sticky Parapara sap. But most often, like this newest arrival from Glen Eden, they present with neurological symptoms from collision injuries—usually with windows or vehicles.”

The Ruru pictured was posted during BCA’s 2023 campaign, with the caption:

A massive thanks to everyone who has supported our appeal so far! We’ve been truly touched by the generosity and kind messages we’ve received. With your help, we can give birds like these a second chance at life💚

Original post – 06 Sep 2023
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/springtime-appeal/feed/ 0 Ruru Bandaged Up https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-bandaged-up/ https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-bandaged-up/#respond Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2107

Original post – 29 Jul 2024
by Wildbase Recovery

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Ruru “Dannevirke” (named for the area he was found) was admitted and treated for nerve damage to his left wing. Wildbase bandaged his wing, and after some cage rest he was able to work on flight fitness in the aviary.

He’s pictured here having his pre-release screening. Wildbase reported at the time he was looking good, so once blood test results were clear he would be scheduled for release back home.

The same Ruru looking far more at ease, perched on a small branch of an evergreen tree in the semi-outdoor environment of the Wildbase aviary.

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-bandaged-up/feed/ 0 Feisty Owl Now Stable https://owlsintowels.org/feisty-owl-now-stable/ https://owlsintowels.org/feisty-owl-now-stable/#respond Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2033 A Ruru Morepork wrapped in a blue and white (but mostly white) towel. Someone could make the argument it's a mostly blue towel and merely has a facade of white terry loops over the blue base but they probably wouldn't. The rehabilitator holding this bundle of owl wears a teal top and black apron. Much of the owl's fluffy down is visible, as is a clenched foot with criss-crossed talons. A light is reflected as a white circle in each pupil of this Ruru's golden yellow eyes, much like the logo for Owls in Towels.

Original post – 15 Jul 2025
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

This feisty Ruru (Morepork) was brought to our friends at Pet Doctors (@pdstlukes) after being attacked by a feral cat in Patumahoe.

Their team did a fantastic job stabilising the ruru with oxygen, pain relief, fluids, and starting antibiotics before transferring to BirdCare Aotearoa for continued rehabilitation. 🏥🩹

Now two days into care here at BirdCare, we’re happy to report that patient 25-1185 is recovering well!

We love it’s disgruntled expression – Ruru are very expressive. Be assured this Ruru is receiving the very best care – and we’re optimistic for a full and speedy recovery. 💚

Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/feisty-owl-now-stable/feed/ 0 Ruru Rescue Rehab Release https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-rescue-rehab-release/ https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-rescue-rehab-release/#respond Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1996 A Ruru with chocolate brown feathers and amber eyes is wrapped in an alabaster-cream towel during a routine health check. He is held by a rehabilitator sporting a pair of purple medical gloves. Only the owl's head is visible, in sharp focus against a soft indiscernible background. One of his eyes is more dilated than the other... ovO

Original post – 28 Oct 2024
by Wildbase Recovery

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

in coordination with Wildbase Hospital

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Facebook


A Ruru Morepork was found in Hokowhitu with a wound to the back of his neck from a predator attack, likely a cat or stoat (which are both introduced species in New Zealand). He was treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories by the team at Wildbase Hospital. After plenty of cage rest, he was able to work on flight fitness at the Circular Flight Aviary and vets were able to assess his vision.

Update 11 Nov 2024:

Ruru Hokowhitu has been released back to the wild!

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-rescue-rehab-release/feed/ 0 Owl in a Bowl https://owlsintowels.org/owl-in-a-bowl/ https://owlsintowels.org/owl-in-a-bowl/#respond Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1962

Ruru Morepork having a relaxing recovery

Original post – 20 Jan 2015
by Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao

located in Wellington, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Our vets in the Nest Te Kōhanga have cared for a Morepork (Ruru) chick for the last two months, and now he has his adult feathers it’s time for him to venture out into the big wide world. This native youngster will be released in two stages. He’s gone to HUHA (Helping You Help Animals) for his ‘soft release’ – two weeks in an aviary with a lamp outside to attract moths for him to practise hunting. Then the door will be opened so he can fly away and hunt for himself, but still come back for food if he needs.

This is the same owl in the same bowl, but many weeks prior. Its juvenile white fluffy down feathers are much more conspicuous in this picture, making its tiny head poking out from the towel appear grey and floofy. The scale reads 175.59. Presumably the unit is grams. It is not clear if the combined tare weight (of the tea towel and bowl) has been brought into account.
Another angle of the burritowl
The same owl wrapped like a burrito, no longer in its bowl... it is likely being transferred either to or from said bowl. The vet staff is behind the owl, mostly out of frame wearing a red tee bearing the zoo logo.

Link to donate to Wellington Zoo for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/owl-in-a-bowl/feed/ 0 Disney Eyes Ruru https://owlsintowels.org/exam-for-ruru/ https://owlsintowels.org/exam-for-ruru/#respond Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1957
This ruru is all eyes. Its pupils are so dilated that only a thin ring of yellow is visible; any wider and there would be no iris left to admire. The eyes are very reflective, revealing the ceiling lights of the clinic. The owl is wrapped in what appears to be a tea towel, which has stripes in two shades of light blue and separated by thin lines of yellow. The light blue matches the scrubs of the examiner seen behind with a stethoscope draped around his neck.

This Ruru / Morepork in New Zealand was photographed during his pre-release examination. Information is limited but we know he spent some time at Wildbase hospital and then the rehabilitation centre before being successfully released.

Photo supplied (sent to: info@owlsintowels.org)

Photographer: TORI TURNER

Wildbase Recovery

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/exam-for-ruru/feed/ 0 Bath Time for Ruru https://owlsintowels.org/bath-time-for-ruru/ Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1817 Photo 1 is the closeup of a ruru owl wrapped in a beige towel, eyes bulging from their sockets. Its face feathers are clotted with the sticky residue of a parapara tree, and gives this poor owl a look that is extra dishevelled.

Original post – 01 Apr 2025
by Birdcare Aotearoa

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

A huge thank you to everyone who donated towards the rehabilitation of our two little Ruru (Morepork), who arrived at BirdCare Aotearoa after becoming trapped in the sticky seed pods of a Parapara tree.

Link to previous post on these two ruru.

Thanks to your support, they’re doing very well in our hospital! After carefully removing all of the seed pods, our dedicated team has been working tirelessly to restore their feathers to their former glory—a delicate process that takes time and patience.

This includes specialised baths designed to help restore the waterproofing properties of their feathers—an essential step for any bird returning to the wild.

It won’t be long now until this duo is ready to soar free once again. 🦉💚

Photo 2 shows the same ruru in a small tupperware tub of specially formulated soapy water. The owl's head sits outside the bowl, body half-submerged (hashtag #owlsinbowls). The fingertips of a rehabber appear from above, applying water to the top of the owls head, as if it were being annointed in a holy ceremony.
Photo 3 shows a very matted looking ruru in the background, sitting on dry towels. The foreground is a pile of the plant seeds, pods and stringy pieces of vegetation that have been removed from the owl. Mixed in amongst this are a few sacrificial feathers. The owl's eyes are lazily focused on something above its field of view. It appears extremely grumpy for some reason.

If you’d like to support their continued care (and others like them), please consider donating:

Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> Ruru Recovers from Window Strike https://owlsintowels.org/ruru-recovers-from-window-strike/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:49 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1527 An alert Ruru Owl with bright yellow eyes looks squarely at the camera while wrapped in a lavender towel held by a rehabilitator / staff member at Wildbase Recovery in Palmerston North, NZ. The photo appears to be taken outdoors, with one side of the patient bathed in more sunlight than the other, resulting in a slightly uneven dilation of its pupils, like an emoji with the letter O for eyes in uppercase and lowercase: 'O v o'

Original post – 01 Feb 2020
by Wildbase Recovery

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

in coordination with Wildbase Hospital

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Website | Facebook

Original text:

This Ruru Morepork is named ‘Shannon’ after the area it was found in the Horowhenua District.

It was taken to Wildbase Hospital where it was treated for head trauma (bleeding in its ear canal), issues with its right leg and carpal swelling after flying into a window. It was placed on cage rest with pain medication and tasty kai [food]. It was a resident at Wildbase to work on its flight strength and silent flight before release.

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link

]]> 2+ Decades of Wildlife Care https://owlsintowels.org/2-plus-decades-of-wildlife-care/ Tue, 01 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=1521

Original post – 13 Mar 2024
by Wildbase Recovery

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
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in association with Wildbase Hospital

located in Palmerston North, New Zealand 🇳🇿
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Extract from the Massey University news article:

Since being established in 2002, Wildbase’s ongoing mission has been to provide vital treatment and support to sick and injured native wildlife, administering medical and surgical care to enable the animals’ full recovery and safe return to the wild.

These efforts have seen the team care for wildlife spanning various categories of national conservation concern, exemplifying Wildbase’s steadfast commitment to preserving New Zealand’s unique biodiversity. As Aotearoa faces one of the highest proportions of native species facing extinction, their work continues to be of utmost importance.

After more than two decades since their doors opened, Wildbase’s patient summary includes 6471 birds, 281 reptiles and 23 bats. Of these, 571 patients were from endangered species and 1670 were from threatened species, with a total of 138 different wildlife species having come through their doors so far. Each of the 110 bird species, 25 reptile species, two bat species and one amphibian species required unique nutrition, physiology and habitat needs which the Wildbase team ensured were met.

…

Their avian patients have included a number of nationally critical birds, which are the species facing the highest risk of extinction, including the tūturuatu (shore plover), kākāpō, matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern), Salvin’s and Antipodean albatross, kakariki karaka (orange-fronted parakeet) and kōtuku (white heron). The team have also cared for a range of nationally endangered birds, including hoiho yellow-eyed penguins, rowi (Okarito brown kiwi), kea and masked booby, with common nationally vulnerable patients including takahē and whio (blue duck).

Of all the bird species, the most frequent flyer award goes to the kereru or the New Zealand wood pigeon, of which 1099 received care at the hospital, followed by kāhu (swamp harrier) at 870 patients then pararā (broad-billed prions) at 607 patients, kiwi-nui (North Island brown kiwi) at 525, tūī (523), ruru morepork (352) and kōtare (kingfishers) rounding it out at 344 patients.

Professor Gartrell says reflecting back on the hospital’s successes over the past two decades confirms that Wildbase has remained steadfast to its mission and will continue to do so in the coming years.

“As we celebrate 21 years of Wildbase, it’s incredible to look back and see how much we have been able to achieve. Our efforts and our commitment have only strengthened, and we will continue this vital work of providing critical care, ongoing research and education initiatives to help safeguard our nation’s living taonga [treasures] for generations to come.”

Link to donate to Wildbase Recovery for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
]]> Vision and Attitude Restored https://owlsintowels.org/vision-and-attitude-restored/ Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:00:06 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=981

Original post – 08 Mar 2025 – Source
by Birdcare Aotearoa

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located in Green Bay, Auckland, New Zealand 🇳🇿

Arohanui [much love] to our amazing BirdCaring whānau [family] who are responding with urgency to our appeal. We have recieved a flurry of donations. We’re not out of the woods, but we are already over half way there. 🥰

In the meantime the mahi [work] continues as wild birds keep coming from far and wide needing urgent care, rescued by caring community members. 💚

Among them was this little ruru who came to us from Browns Bay dazed, unable to fly and with reduced vision. Our hospital team quickly got to work treating for suspected head trauma. 🤕

Under an expert regime of oxygen, pain relief and fluid therapy they are making a dramatic recovery. With vision and attitude restored, they are well on track to being returned to the wild – along with the other three Ruru that are currently in our care, who are rehabilitating from parapara entrapment. 🦉🦉🦉🦉

Without your donations, these birds and many more like them would not get the second chance that they deserve. We are very grateful for the support of our wonderful community during this time.

We’re almost there!

Link to donate to Birdcare Aotearoa for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ninox novaeseelandiaeMoreporkWiki link
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