Usually it doesn’t exist in the region. But miraculously, a pygmy owl was found seriously injured. What happens to the rare bird now.
When an expert like Harald Dellert speaks of “a miracle” and “a sensation” in the face of a pygmy owl, the animal must be something special. The falconer received a wounded pygmy owl for care and looked after it in good health. Pygmy owls do not actually exist in the region. They are very rare in all of Germany, there are said to be only about 5000 breeding pairs currently in Central Europe.
Care station for owls and birds of prey
Falkner Harald Dellert is the head of the “reception and care station for injured birds of prey and owls”. The state-approved sanctuary in the Würzburg area has been in existence for 40 years. It was founded in 1980 by Falkner Jürgen Färber. Falkner has been helping Dellert since 2002 and took over the rescue center in 2015.
It now consists of two nursing stations in Würzburg-Oberdürrbach and in Veitshöchheim. Injured, sick or abused birds of prey and owls are treated there. In all the 40 years, a pygmy owl has never been brought in.
Harald Dellert is moved by the fact that he sees the owl-type pygmy owl for the first time in the facility’s anniversary year. Also, “that he was found only 100 meters from my apartment in Oberdürrbach”. He had no idea that a breeding pair lives and has young here. This is how it must have been, because the pygmy owl is not yet fully grown. Dellert suspects that he was two months old when he was found.
Flown against a window pane
That was in late April. The little owl was seriously injured in a front yard. It had flown so heavily against a window pane at a height of five meters that the imprint was still visible. The pygmy owl was very cold after the crash. Dellert suspected a concussion. “I had little hope that he would get through,” the expert admits.
The falcon only knew passerines from photos. He had never seen one in kind, let alone held it in his hand. Thanks to the care provided by warm light and building materials, the pygmy owl recovered surprisingly quickly. Now he eats well when Dellert feeds the wild bird chicks, little mice or grasshoppers through a crack.
The pygmy owl will soon be released into the wild. “I’m already worried about the little rascal,” admits Dellert. The rare owl is dear to his heart. In the wild, they have many predators such as martens, sparrowhawks, tawny owls, hawks, magpies or crows. The beautiful and rare bird of prey should reproduce. Therefore, it is not released at the place where it was found in Würzburg, but in a forest near Fürth. There he has a better chance of finding fellow species.
Pygmy owls usually reside in coniferous forests. They like to live in caves that have pecked woodpeckers into the trunks of spruce. Spruces are currently decaying due to climate change, hot and dry summers or bark beetle infestation. Spruce die-off is fatal for the special type of owl.
I’m already worried about the little rascal.
Falconer Harald Dellert–
Because pygmy owls also hunt songbirds, they are popularly called “little devils”. Falkner Dellert hopes that his dwarf owl has recovered so much that she can hunt herself eagerly. Fortunately, it is said to be released into the wild with another pygmy owl that is currently in the bird of prey care station in Stettfeld near Bamberg. “Coincidentally, and for the first time, a pygmy owl is also in care in Stettfeld,” says Dellert.
But there is also a lot going on in the rescue center in Oberdürrbach and Veitshöchheim: “There is a lot to do at the moment,” says the manager. The young age had begun. It is always the most intense time because the young birds have to learn to fly. The sanctuary currently has seven young tawny owls, seven long-eared owls, five kestrel pups and a small eagle owl in care.
50 kestrel pups nursed healthy
The eagle owl was found in the Ochsenfurt area and “crashed too early”. He was malnourished and is now “fed” until he is released near his parents. “New kestrels come in every day,” said Dellert. Last spring he looked after around 50 kestrel pups. He hopes there won’t be that many again this year.
Photo: Irene Konrad
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With a lot of heart and care, the falconer is currently raising a small brown owl. He is only four weeks old and was bred by a friend. The tawny owl is allowed to snuggle up in soft wipes in a wicker basket and, like every baby, likes to be petted a little. If this tame tawny owl is big enough, Harald Dellert wants to use it for educational work.
The association “Bird of Prey and Owl Aid Würzburg e.V.” supports the sanctuary and its members want to raise public awareness of bird protection. That is why they regularly visit kindergartens, schools or social institutions with bred animals that are used to humans. “Anyone who has ever had an owl in hand will never forget that,” Dellert is convinced.
Information about memberships and animal sponsorships is available on the homepage www.riffvogelhilfe-wuerzburg.de
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