Today’s featured animal is one of Binder Park Zoo’s most recognized education animal ambassadors: Uno, the Eastern screech owl. While her tiny stature and permanent “wink” make Uno a crowd favorite, her unique story also helps to connect Zoo visitors with the plight of owls everywhere. In 2002, Uno was brought to Binder Park Zoo after rehabilitation from being hit by a car. With the loss of an eye, Uno could no longer effectively hunt or avoid being hunted herself as owls rely on their excellent senses, including vision, to survive. Luckily for Uno, the care she received after her accident, and the care she continues to receive from dedicated animal care staff, has allowed her to thrive as part of our Zoo family for the past 12 years. And although Uno is not an exhibit animal, she can still regularly be seen both on Zoo grounds and out in the community during education programming. Interested in owls in your neck of the woods? Eastern screech owls can be found all across the Eastern portion of North America, including right here in Michigan. Their habitats tend to vary greatly: from dense forests to urban areas, and possibly even your own backyard. If you’re feeling crafty, you can also encourage these owls to take up residence nearby by providing a homemade nest box (see pattern - wingsofwonder.org/assets/WOW_NestBoxPlan.pdf). Like most owl species, Eastern screech owls may be hard to see because they are extremely well camouflaged and most active at night, but keep an ear out for their distinctive call (owlinstitute.org/eastern-screech-owl.html). Amanda McFarlin - Zoo Educator
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:45:00 +0000
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