Poetic Shutterbug

Source: Photo of the Eurasian Eagle Owl taken at the San Francisco zoo. A Story Of Survival. The San Francisco zoo is a haven for rescued wildlife and the owl population is no exception. Meet Athena as pictured above. She is the Eurasian Eagle Owl who lives in the Children's zoo and is cared for by the Koret Animal Resource Center at the San Francisco zoo .. It is illegal to import owls and birds in general into the United States because they can carry disease. Nevertheless, a smuggler back in 2005 thought he would bring in over a dozen owl eggs into the country by dyeing the eggs to look like Easter eggs and sell them for over five thousand dollars a piece. Only three of those survived and one of them was Athena. She was rescued by the United States Fish and Wildlife service at the San Francisco airport and was brought to the San Francisco zoo for her own protection and to receive the care she needed after her traumatic event. Because her first imprint (m...

This is my adopted son Wilbur the barn owl, with the heart shaped face who has my heart and lives at the Koret Animal Resource Center at the San Francisco zoo.   Read about Wilbur's adoption here . I am using Wilbur as an example to bring you some interesting facts about barn owls in general. Barn owls have acute hearing with their ears being asymmetrical.  On a barn owl their ears are covered by feathers with one ear being on the top right side of their head and the other being on the low left hand side.  They work like cell phone towers with sounds bouncing off of each other.  If a barn owl were blind, he would still be able to hunt for food using his keen sense of hearing. Their eyes are tubular in shape which means that they do not have peripheral vision.  That is why they have to turn their heads up to 270 degrees to see around them.  They have no sense of smell at all and is why they have a heightened sense or hearing.  Wilbur also has d...

Athena, the Eurasian eagle owl. All photos taken at the Koret Animal Resource Center at the San Francisco Zoo. Archimedes, the great horned owl Wilbur, the barn owl Monty, the turkey vulture Frank, the harris hawk Click the above widget for more great macro photography. Learn more about the owls at the San Francisco Zoo

My baby Wilbur the Barn Owl All photos taken at the Koret Animal Resource Center at the San Francisco Zoo. Athena the Eurasian Eagle Owl Another photo of Athena the Eurasian Eagle Owl Archimedes the Great Horned Owl I am participating in Macro Monday 2 Read More History And Fun Facts About The Owls Living At The San Francisco Zoo

This is Wilbur the Barn Owl at the San Francisco zoo and my adopted son :) Wilbur has a beautiful wing span and his feathers are as soft as satin to the touch. Wilbur looking very happy at feeding time. Click the above widget for more camera critters fun.

Photos Taken At The San Francisco Zoo Wilbur the Barn Owl Interesting Facts Meet My New Son Wilbur the Barn Owl My friend, Paula and I went to the zoo yesterday on residents free day so that I could introduce her to Wilbur.  Unfortunately he was not there but was in the SF Zoo Mobile entertaining school children around San Francisco. I went back today, Thursday in order to buy a membership to the zoo so that I could visit him whenever I want.  Every time I have seen him, he is always sleeping in his barn but today I was thrilled to see him outside playing, taking a bath and hanging out for his fans - and he has many. I found out a few new facts about him.  He is a picky eater and will only eat black mice.  He is also bothered by the beeping sounds that the zoo trucks make when they are backing up.  He is a homebody and loves his little blue barn, as do I. It was such a treat for me to see him so animated today.  He also will res...