Owl Spotted in Corvallis, Danger of Rodenticide Poisoning

Great Horned Owl

In Corvallis’ Jana neighborhood, an owl was heard hooting by residents and was recently seen by a Chintimini volunteer. As she was walking on Tyler Ave around dusk a large owl swooped off of a low branch in front of a home and flew up to a taller tree. It was a beautiful sight to behold and a reminder that we must take care of our local wildlife. Due to its unbelievably fast and completely silent flight, the owl was not identifiable, but from its vocalizations it is believed to be a Great Horned Owl. Listen to a Great Horned Owl sound here.

Great Horned Owls eat a variety of rodents, making them perfect pest control agents. But in both urban and rural areas, people use harmful rodenticides, not understanding the potential suffering it can cause not only to rodents, but also to other animals that share their environment. While rodenticides kill rodents, they also kill owls and other predators including hawks and bobcats. And without natural predators there will be an even bigger rodent problem.

Chintimini Wildlife in the News!

Read the full articleMandy Kiger explains the difference between the wings of falcons and owls to OSU student Corwin Perren, left. Photo: Godofredo Vasquez, Gazette-Times

The Willamette Valley Bird Symposium, a day-long event that brings together professionals, students, and amateurs from the Willamette Valley to celebrate birds took place last Saturday. Chintimini Wildlife Center’s Raptor Conservation Program volunteers were at the event along with Raptor Ambassador birds educating attendees and answering questions. Read the full article in the Gazette-Times.

 

Winter Wildlife Field Day 3/12

On March 12th, the Audubon Society of Corvallis is hosting a kid’s field day with support from the Chintimini Wildlife Center, the Friends of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Institute for Applied Ecology, Starker Forests, OSU Bird Nerds, and the OSU Forestry Club.

This event is completely FREE to those that attend and runs from 10am to 2pm and will be located at the Finley Wildlife Refuge main office. We hope to see you there!