South Africa – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:42:07 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png South Africa – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 Mending a Broken Wing https://owlsintowels.org/mending-a-broken-wing/ https://owlsintowels.org/mending-a-broken-wing/#respond Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=4477 An orange-eyed owl wears a purple towel like a thick-collared winter coat. The rehabilitator behind wears a blue nylon tee and holds the rugby ball sized bundle of bird with fanned fingers that meet mid-torso, thumbs obscured. The owl rotates his head a touch, watching someone or something left of frame. His plumicorns are tall and V-shaped toward the beak, complemented by an angled brow that gives an expression of subdued rage.

Photo: ASHLEIGH PIENAAR

Original post – 15 Apr 2020
by Johannesburg Wildlife Vet

located in Johannesburg, South Africa 🇿🇦
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

GORGEOUS PATIENT: This Cape eagle owl (Bubo capensis) was transferred to us from the Cluny Animal Trust. We discovered, upon examination, that the owl had an old fracture of the right tibiotarsus [the big ol’ leg bone below the femur]. This had healed on its own over time and he (by now identified as a male) had adapted to using the leg.

Sans towel, the owl is now shackled at the feet by the rehabber's clenched hand, and held in the other at a 45 degree angle, the way one might wield a cudgel or a tennis racket. Heretofore unseen is the injured wing, wrapped with cyan gauze and affixed with pink elastic plaster. Also on display is the owl's full plumage in shades of dark brown and mottled with patches of tan and white. The owl looks directly at the camera with eyes W-I-D-E. The rage from the previous photo is no longer subdued.

Photo: ASHLEIGH PIENAAR

The reason for his admission was in fact a right wrist fracture. The wing was strapped into the correct position. He had a few weeks of cage rest as well as physiotherapy to assist with healing. Once the fracture had healed, the owl was placed in a large flight enclosure to further strengthen the wing.
He was ringed and was successfully released back where he came from.

The original post is capped with the note:

We treat indigenous wildlife, free of charge, relying on the community for donations and support.

Link to donate to Johannesburg Wildlife Vet for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo capensisCape Eagle-OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/mending-a-broken-wing/feed/ 0 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 🇿🇦
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

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo africanusSpotted Eagle-OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/lousy-feather-condition/feed/ 0 Endangered African Grass Owl https://owlsintowels.org/endangered-african-grass-owl/ https://owlsintowels.org/endangered-african-grass-owl/#respond Tue, 11 Nov 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://127.0.0.1/wordpress/?p=2463 An African Grass Owl in a white towel expresses a look that sits somewhere between fear and trust, as if to say, "The featherless apes have trapped me, but I sense they're not going to eat me... yet". She has black marble eyes above a pink beak, with a short trail of mascara-like markings (like back-to-back musical notes or lower-case q and p) running down either side a bridge of creamy white feathers. Are these inky lines due to a natural pigmentation of her feathers? Or some long-term staining from build-up of eye goop? Hard to say. Eye goop experts please advise. In spite of this description, she's a beautiful owl, with her look of cautious curiosity framed inside a cardioid-shaped facial disc, like a heart or half-apple.

Original post – 03 Mar 2022
by Owl Rescue Centre
located in Hartbeespoort, South Africa 🇿🇦
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Original text:

One of our rather special rescues for the day is this endangered African Grass Owl.
She was clipped by a combine harvester on a farm near Bronkhorstspruit this morning.
Fortunately the farmer saw her and managed to bundle her up and make contact with us.
With the help of Vanessa Davis and Roland Leschinsky she was stabilized and is now with our vets at Bryanston Avian, Exotic and Small Animal Clinic.
We’re crossing fingers the leg can be saved and she can get back home as soon as possible😉

Link to donate to Owl Rescue Centre for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Tyto capensisAfrican Grass OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/endangered-african-grass-owl/feed/ 0 Stroppy Eagle Owl https://owlsintowels.org/stroppy-eagle-owl/ https://owlsintowels.org/stroppy-eagle-owl/#respond Sun, 19 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2228 A Spotted Eagle Owl is wrapped in a slate blue towel in a burrito-like fashion. The rehabber holds the fledgling upright for the camera with their left hand (in a white medical glove), and takes the photo with their right. The original post says "rehabbers often have to handle admissions solo" which explains the improvised wrapping technique common to a lot of posts here, which enables the carer to take notes, photos, and administer food, fluids, treatment etc. The owl's feathers are mostly grey with a white outer fuzz looking like fresh snow. Her beak is tucked in behind the wrap, leaving only her green-yellow eyes visible, which are expressive, thanks in part to black markings that appear like raised eyebrows.

19th of Owltober!

Original post – 26 Sep 2025
by FreeMe Wildlife

located in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 🇿🇦
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

Creativity is key🤔🔑

When working at a rehab centre, anything can happen at any time, day or night. This means our rehabbers often have to handle admissions solo (holding, treating, taking photos etc.), which often leads to comical improvisations. This Spotted Eagle Owl fledgling was being especially stroppy on admission, and so had to be restrained in a towel burrito while a small wound on her neck was being treated🤣🌯🦉.

Two days later…

Update on our blind Spotted Eagle Owl fledgling🦉🦉🦉

This young spotty, now known as Eyeball😂, is doing much better than on admission. While both pupils have returned to normal size, we’re not convinced she can see much more than light or movement. It’s been a long road for this baby, and her journey with us is not quite over yet. We are cautiously hopeful that she will continue to improve and regain her sight fully. In the meantime, she has moved to a bigger cage and will soon be tested in an outside enclosure.

We love what we do, and how we do it… ❤

Link to donate to FreeMe Wildlife for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo africanusSpotted Eagle-OwlWiki link



Bonus image:

A cartoon trash-can lid and a pair of fuzzy brown eyebrows are composited onto the original image, which combined with the cylinder-like quality of the towel, and the owl's eyes peeking above the rim, makes this Spotted Eagle Owl look like beloved Sesame Street character Oscar the Grouch

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/stroppy-eagle-owl/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 🇿🇦
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

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo africanusSpotted Eagle-OwlWiki link
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/fuzzy-fledgling-found/feed/ 0 Weighing a Torpedowl https://owlsintowels.org/weighing-a-torpedowl/ https://owlsintowels.org/weighing-a-torpedowl/#respond Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=2082 This owlet meets the category of "torpedowl" being wrapped in a tube of plain white towel and head facing outwards from the cylinder. She is placed in a plastic bowl the colour of warm pastel blue, atop a set of scales. Her face is a little sunk inside the tube, and in shadow which accentuates the yellow of her eyes. Her mouth is slightly open and tongue is visible. Being juvenile there's an extra level of fluffiness to her feathers.

Original post – 08 Nov 2024
by FreeMe Wildlife

located in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 🇿🇦
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Original text:

A Spotted Eagle Owl chick, not impressed with being weighed… 😂

Link to donate to FreeMe Wildlife for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo africanusSpotted Eagle-OwlWiki link

]]> https://owlsintowels.org/weighing-a-torpedowl/feed/ 0 Double Trouble: Pair of White-Faced Owls https://owlsintowels.org/double-trouble-pair-of-white-faced-owls/ Sun, 02 Mar 2025 05:46:24 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=952

Original post – 12 Dec 2023 – Source

by Moholoholo Wildlife Rehab

located in Hoedspruit, South Africa

Website | Instagram | Facebook

These two White-faced owl chicks were both found at the side of a busy road in a nearby town. It is unknown why they came to be there, but no nest or parents were close by. The chicks have grown up quickly and are now eating independently which is an exciting step in the rehabilitation process!
Once they are old enough they will be released, but that is still in a while away ✨

Link to donate to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehab for those willing and able.

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Ptilopsis grantiSouthern white-faced owlWiki link

✨BONUS ✨

I posted this over at r/photoshopbattles and this was the response:

The E.T. edit by u/dystopika

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