Photo: SORCO

Owl and other bird-of-prey babies are just around the corner with the arrival of spring, and the SORCO Raptor Rehab Centre in Oliver is reminding people to leave babies they find on the ground alone. 

"Mum and dad will still care for it," said Dale Belvedere, SORCO manager. "And it can actually get back up the tree, they use their talons to get up the tree, so even though they're not flying yet they can get up there." 

Moving the babies ruins that chance — the parents will no longer take care of the fledgling and the bird will need to spend months at SORCO before being released, and will be separated from their family.  

Because of a mostly mild winter, babies could have already begun hatching, and will be adventuring out of the nest soon. Belvedere said it's most common to see baby great horned owls jumping out of their nests in the South Okanagan, and it all comes down to sibling rivalry. 

"What it is is they usually lay between two to three eggs, and they're laid three days apart. So the youngest sees the eldest flapping away and trying to fly, and they try and don't make it and fall to the ground," Belvedere said. "It is adorable, 'How come he can do it and I can't?'"

In an area where there are lots of predators or dangers, like cats, dogs and people, SORCO will monitor the situation and step in if need be. Belvedere encourages anyone who spots a baby on the ground to call SORCO and describe the situation, so they can assess whether further action is needed. 

"We can instruct them what to do," Belvedere said. "We prefer not to step in if we can help it, we just want to keep them together."

Reach out to SORCO at 250-498-4251.