It’s ringing season for our occupied owl boxes. We always involve the family in the ringing process and encourage kids to help. If done under supervision and with care, children are more than capable of holding an owlet. It’s important to bear in mind that owls do not have a sense of smell, so once ringing is completed, adult owls quickly return to the owl box to check on their owlets and normal owl family life resumes.
The idea that parent birds will not feed youngsters that have been touched is totally untrue. In reality, the vast majority of birds have absolutely no sense of smell. However, although not factual, this myth has some beneficial consequences. It often results in people not picking up birds because they mistakenly believe that the parents will not accept them thereafter. Not picking up young birds is always a good idea.
Most young birds, owlets included experience a bit of a rite of passage. They will spend a few days on the ground or perched precariously on low branches while they practise and hone their flight skills. Their concerned parents are always in attendance at this time and they keep a very watchful eye on their young. The parents continue to feed and generally guide their brood through this perilous time until they reach fully flighted emancipation. These young birds, owlets included, never require picking up and should never be removed from their nesting site. Generally, birds should only be picked up if they have been injured and then they should be seen by a qualified vet.
