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Owl saved from drowning, flies away after TLC
The owl opens its eyes after it was towel-dried and right, attempts to fly
While staying at a tourist bungalow near Wasgamuwa recently, IT professional Niroshan Jayasuriya stepped out of his room one morning around 7 a.m. when he noticed the caretaker trying to console something. On closer inspection, Mr. Jayasuriya saw that it was a little owl struggling in a pool of water trapped in a cement ring.
With the caretaker’s help, Mr. Jayasuriya quickly rescued the owl from the water. “At first, we thought it was a baby owl due to its small size, but then we realized it was an adult as it had powerful talons,” Mr. Jayasuriya told the Sunday Times. They dried the owl as much as they could and wrapped it in a towel.
To their dismay, the little owl closed its eyes, appearing to give up. However, Jayasuriya wasn’t ready to give up on it. He gently rubbed the owl, trying to keep it warm, and to their delight, the owl suddenly opened its eyes.
They brought the owl inside into the kitchen and closed the doors and windows. The owl began to recover but showed signs of panic and tried to escape. Unsure of what else to do, Mr. Jayasuriya instinctively began whistling. “The owl responded to the whistle, looking at me attentively and calming down,” Mr. Jayasuriya recounted.
Since it was broad daylight and the owl was a nocturnal creature, they decided to wait until nightfall to release it. They kept the owl in the kitchen until 7 p.m. before letting it go. The owl took a final look at its rescuers before flying off towards its companions in the nearby woods.
“It was one of the most joyful moments of my life,” Mr. Jayasuriya shared with the Sunday Times.
The small owl they rescued was a Jungle Owlet (Glaucidium radiatum). Native to the Indian subcontinent, this diminutive owl typically measures about 19 to 21 centimetres (7.5 to 8.3 inches) in length, with a wingspan of about 35 to 40 centimetres (14 to 16 inches). It usually weighs between 100 and 150 grams (3.5 to 5.3 ounces). Although mainly active at dawn and dusk, the Jungle Owlet is also known to call and fly during the daytime. It often roosts in tree cavities.
| Keep an ear open for those night-time hoots | |
| In celebration of International Owl Day on August 4, the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) at the University of Colombo organised a programme to raise awareness about owls. Owls are often misunderstood and regarded as omens of bad luck due to age-old myths. However, these birds play a vital role in the ecosystem, particularly by controlling the populations of small mammals like rats, which are agricultural pests. Our ancestors recognised this and placed “pol pittas” (perches) in paddy fields to encourage owls to hunt for rodents. Sri Lanka is home to 12 owl species, two of which are endemic. One of the most notable discoveries is the Sri Lanka Serendib Scops-owl (Otus thilohoffmanni), by ornithologist Deepal Warakagoda in 2004, indicating that that there is still much to learn about these mysterious birds. Several owl species are common and can be found in home gardens across the island. In Colombo, there are three species: the Indian Scops Owl (Otus bakkamoena), the Brown Hawk-owl (Ninox scutulata), and the Barn Owl (Tyto alba). The Barn Owl, being the largest of the three, is a fascinating presence in the bustling capital, according to Prof. Dayawansa of FOGSL. As part of their awareness campaign, FOGSL conducted a survey of owls in Colombo. The programme began after evening lectures at around 9 p.m., with participants divided into teams to observe and record owls along different routes, including locations like Vihara Maha Devi Park and the Borella Cemetery. Owl calls were primarily used to identify these elusive birds, as they often remain hidden from view, explained Prof. Dayawansa. FOGSL plans to continue the Colombo owl survey and encourages everyone to listen for owls in their areas, keeping an ear out to ensure these night-time creatures still thrive in urban environments. |
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