Mote - the Bathing Barn Owl

This handsome barn owl has "glass bone syndrome", where all the bones in the wings are fused together. Raised by people who didn't provide the appropriate diet for calcium development in his body, he can't fly and has an underdeveloped body.

Mote, however, has the biggest heart and is the official ambassador at Sardis Raptor Center in Ferndale, WA. http://www.sardisraptor.org/ He is afraid of the dark and sleeps with a night lite.

He's also scared of mice and cats. Mote loves to play in water. In the wild, barn owls live 2-3 years. Mote is 16.

He did get completely soaked later on, but he wasn't recognizable as an owl. He sat in front of the heater for an hour to dry himself off.

When he's dry: http://whitneykrueger.typepad.com/photos/sardis/2688246476_c5c1bbbca0_o.html

To find out more about caring for owls:
http://www.festivalofowls.com/owlsaspets.htm

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• barn
• owl
• raptor
• pacific
• northwest
• sardis
• center
• rehabilitation

[akAsha6E6D]

what a lovely video,Mote you are adorable....i wish him health and a long life!!!!

[avalonmuse]

@akAsha6E6D Thank you, that's so sweet! Many blessings to you too.

[verticalsmurf]

Why do you think they have such short lives in the wild when one with a bone condition can live to past 16 in captivity? Is it their natural diet? Do other Owls have similarly short lives? Why are their lives so short?

They are being outlived by Budgies, Cockatiels, ducks, chooks, etc in the wild but not in captivity. I know Owls also have predators, but how is it that Budgies - hunted by humans, hawkes, eagles and possums can outlive a Barn Owl?

Really interested in a response.

[avalonmuse]

@verticalsmurf A barn owl consumes about 1600+ rodents per year. Therein lies a primary difference between a barn owl and a budgie. Barn owls die prematurely from rodent poisoning, accidents with vehicles and power lines, and attacks from great horned owls.

[avalonmuse]

@verticalsmurf Also, their habitats are being destroyed and the decrease in old barns available for nest sites. Barn owls are lightweight with very little body fat (not like budgies have a lot :-)), so it can be difficult for them to endure longer colder winters, as their soft feathers are not waterproof.

[mabs0253]

He's afraid of the dark and mice. Officially my favorite barn owl. I wish I could meet him.

[avalonmuse]

@mabs0253 Mote would definitely make a fine Pixar character.

[Jillthompson2008]

Bless his heart! He is so adorable!

[syeend1]

hey I just want to say thanks for uploading this, it made my night to see mote man again I miss everything about Sardis now that I'm only there for summers but seeing stuff like this helps with my animal withdrawals

[verticalsmurf]

@syeend1 give mote snuggles and a good head scratch from me.

I know there is no real reason behind it, but it never ceases to amaze me that a budgie can live longer than an owl, and my Conure will outlive all my neighbours cats and dogs (tee hee). I guess size doesn't matter.

[verticalsmurf]

@avalonmuse Thankyou. I hadn't thought about poisions.

[syeend1]

@verticalsmurf another big part of it is that in the wild when predators like barn owls get older and weaker they very quickly get to a point where they cant feed themselves anymore and so they die or get picked off by other predators. In captivity where food and safety is never a problem they can live a ton longer even with other medical problems. BTW to all mote is still doing well for an old geezer last time i saw him

[bloodline862]

Dear santa :D..........

[AlwaysaNavyGirl]

He's adorable! Shame on those people, barn owls are supposed to be scared of the LIGHT! It's cute that he sleeps with a nightlight though :) poor little guy.

[DraconiusDragora]

That are some nice and healthy animals. Hope they all have a long and healthy life. (Looked through most of the pictures)

[wii2050]

Why is the swimming pool so tiny? That's like torture.

[chemicanova]

If all that is true, then I love that bird.

[MPSecare]

ah always wondered what their beak looked like under the feathers!