ILOILO – An injured Eastern grass owl (Tyto longimembris) was rescued in a rice field in Barangay Potrigo, Miag-ao town on Feb. 7. It had injured wings.
An air gun pellet may have been the culprit.
The grass owl was kept safe at the temporary rescue center of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO-Guimbal) in Barangay Kirayan Tacas, Miag-ao.
The Eastern grass owl is rarely seen but is adapted to life on the ground. They normally hide in long grasses and are more silent than the Barn owl.
Fluffy owlets of the Eastern grass owl often get exposed during the harvest season in agricultural areas.
When completely healed, the rescued owl would be released in the wild again – at the Maasin Watershed Forest Reserve, said Miag-ao Municipal ENR Officer Isidro Mosura.
Bird expert Godfrey Jakosalem of the PhilBio was tapped by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 for bird identification.
“This bird just proved that shooting or killing of faunas remains a problem. Let us not forget their importance. They balance our ecosystem,” said DENR Region 6 executive director Francisco Milla Jr. (DENR-6/PN)
