Hollywood Hills Elementary School Students to Release Burrowing Owl

WHO:
Hollywood Hills Elementary School Students
Greg Adler, Wildlife Care Center release coordinator
South Florida Audubon Society

WHAT:
The Wildlife Care Center, in partnership with Hollywood Hills Elementary School and the South Florida Audubon Society, will release a rehabilitated burrowing owl back into the wild on Monday. Students at Hollywood Hills will also participate in a lesson on burrowing owls, a protected species native to Florida.

WHEN:
Monday, November 1, 2010 at 9 a.m.

WHERE:
Hollywood Hills Elementary School, West Field
3501 Taft Street, Hollywood

WHY:
The owl who will be released Monday had been taken to the Fort Lauderdale wildlife rehabilitation center after he had apparently been attacked by a hawk. He was severely injured, and sustained two puncture wounds to his side and chest. A concerned citizen found him and took him to the Wildlife Care Center, where he received fluids, pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics; the veterinary team cleaned and sutured his wounds, and placed him on cage rest for one week. The wounds healed well and the owl was moved to the center’s outside enclosure for flight testing and conditioning. After successful treatment and rehabilitation, the owl is ready for release.

HOW:
In preparation for the release, Kelly Heffernan, an avian biologist with the South Florida Audubon Society’s Project Perch, will be visited Hollywood Hills Elementary School this week to install two artificial burrows and to speak to students about the importance of animal habitats. Pupils from Hollywood Hills will then help with the burrow installation.