Spotted Eagle-Owl – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:17:50 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 https://owlsintowels.org/content/media/tBNh7to.png Spotted Eagle-Owl – Owls in Towels https://owlsintowels.org/ 32 32 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 A Moist Owlette https://owlsintowels.org/a-moist-owlette/ https://owlsintowels.org/a-moist-owlette/#respond Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:00:00 +0000 https://owlsintowels.org/?p=3545 Captured in bright indoor lighting before a hessian pin board, a Spotted Eagle-Owl with wide-eyes and wet-plumage is cloaked in a white cloth. Spiked feathers radiate from his head in all directions, like a hairy durian, accentuating his look of shock and indignation. We may have found the true paragon of Owls in Towels.

Original post – 09 Jul 2015
by Owl Park San Vigilio
located in South Tyrol, Italy 🇮🇹
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Owl Park San Vigilio is a zoological park in northern Italy. They recently reposted this Spotted Eagle-Owl with the caption:

Che c’è? non avete mai visto un gufo dopo la doccia? Un po’ di privacy grazie!

English translation:

What’s the matter? Haven’t you ever seen an owl after a shower? A little privacy, please!

xo owlsintowels

💛🦉

SpeciesCommon NameMore info
Bubo africanusSpotted Eagle-OwlWiki link

Bonus pic:

The same image from above (a wet frazzled looking owl wearing a towel like a robe), but edited to have a human hand holding a red coffee cup emerging from the “robe”
by jnkrtech on Mastodon
]]> https://owlsintowels.org/a-moist-owlette/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