Eastern Screech Owl

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9

Eastern Screech Owl, red or rufous morph, perched on a tree. Was struck by a vehicle and stunned, photographed before releasing to a wildlife rehabilitator. Walton County, GA, USA. The eastern screech owl, Megascops asio, is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada.

Just after sunset on a Tuesday night, a Walton County Animal Control officer was called out to pick up an owl on Walker Drive in Monroe, Georgia. A little red or rufous morph Eastern Screech Owl had crossed paths with a vehicle and became stuck in the car’s grill after a head-on collision.

Owls have superb vision and pinpoint hearing in order to pick off prey in low-light situations. Unfortunately, they can become so focused on their quarry, which in this case was on the side of a roadway, that they don’t even notice the vehicle racing at them from the side.

The officer brought the Owl back to the shelter and placed him in a quiet cage. Thankfully, he was still alive in the morning when I arrived. He was still able to see, which is a good sign. Many owls I have picked up that were involved in car strikes have gone blind from head trauma. He was also able to fly a short distance but soon became exhausted.
​
Sensing he wasn’t able to be released, I made arrangements with a licensed wildlife rehabilitor and got his photographs before transporting him into their care. 

Walton County, Georgia, USA

Eastern Screech Owl, red or rufous morph. Was struck by a vehicle and stunned, photographed before releasing to a wildlife rehabilitator. Walton County, GA, USA. The eastern screech owl, Megascops asio, is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada.

Eastern Screech Owl, red or rufous morph, perched on a tree. Was struck by a vehicle and stunned, photographed before releasing to a wildlife rehabilitator. Walton County, GA, USA. The eastern screech owl, Megascops asio, is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada.

Eastern Screech Owl, red or rufous morph, perched on a tree. Was struck by a vehicle and stunned, photographed before releasing to a wildlife rehabilitator. Walton County, GA, USA. The eastern screech owl, Megascops asio, is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada.

Eastern Screech Owl, red or rufous morph, hit by a vehicle, photographed before releasing to a wildlife rehabilitator. Walton County, GA, USA. The eastern screech owl, Megascops asio, is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada.

Vertical composition. Eastern Screech Owl, red or rufous morph, perched on a tree. Was struck by a vehicle and stunned, photographed before releasing to a wildlife rehabilitator. Walton County, GA, USA. The eastern screech owl, Megascops asio, is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada.