The Tawny Owl was discovered exhausted and slightly injured clinging to the front of the train in the Stobart freight terminal in Crick, Northamptonshire. It was taken to the Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary where it was diagnosed with wing damage and a slight concussion and was aptly named "Lucky". Lucky is making a rapid recovery due the efforts of the fine people at the sanctuary and is expected to make a full recovery and be released back into the wild, although not back in Scotland where is presumably came from.
Owls are frequently in the news when they unfortunately collide with various modes of transportation, although they are often killed, there are many stories of amazing survival such as the owl stuck in the grill of an SUV . Owls bodies are not that big under all those lightweight feathers and the special design of their feather that results in quiet flight and their bulk probably helps to cushion them in some collisions. In this case, it is more likely that rather than coming the entire 325 miles from Scotland, at some point the owl collided with the train and clung on for dear life. To let loose and risk being tumbled by the wind and/or caught in the strong slipstream around the train may well have lead to worse injury or death. In any case, all is well that ends well. And as I've said in previous posts, if you love wildlife, be aware of your nearest wildlife shelter or rehabilitation center so if you find an injured wild creature you know where to take it - and also consider donating to help the cause! In most cases, these center depend heavily on donations and volunteer labor.
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| "Lucky" the Tawny Owl after surviving 300 mile train trip! |
Photo: Peter Corns Source: dailymail.co.uk
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| 300 mile train route! |
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| "Lucky" will be released back into the wild. |
Photo: Peter Corns Source: dailymail.co.uk
Lucky took the ride on the front of this speeding train just below the drivers compartment!
Photo: Peter Corns Source: dailymail.co.uk
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