On 21st April 2018, a Spotted Wood Owl (Strix seloputo) chick fell from its nest at Pasir Ris Park. Landing on the ground, it walked about and flapped its wings trying desperately to fly back to the nest.
Unable to fly, it scrambled up another tree. There was a Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) growing on the lower portion of the trunk and this helped its progress.
It managed to move further up the trunk with the help of its flapping wings but lost its grip and fell. The fern cushioned the fall but the owlet was unable to maintain its balance and stumbled to the ground (see video by MeiLin Khoo below).
As it was about to rain, Geri Lim who happened to be a docent for the Singapore zoo, came to the rescue. She used her raincoat to wrap around the owlet and took it to the nesting tree. The owlet was placed in a stable surface about 2 metres above the ground. There, among familiar surroundings and safe from stray cats and curious people, the owlet rested after its ordeal.
MeiLin Khoo & Art Toh
Singapore
23th April 2018
This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behaviour through photography and videography to a wider audience.
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