A specimen of barn owl (Tyto alba) that was found in the municipality of Güímar has been returned to its natural habitat after being recovered from an infection at the La Tahonilla Wildlife Recovery Centerdependent on the Cabildo de Tenerife.
The owl was admitted to the Center on July 26 with apparent weakness due to illness. After a more exhaustive analysis by the Center’s veterinarians, it was determined that the bird suffered from a major infection in the esophagus caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli Y Tritrichomonas fetus.
After a few days of treatment, the owl recovered its health and the La Tahonilla team considered that it was time to return it to its habitat. The specimen was released on August 1 in the municipality of Güímar, in the Siete Lomas area, by the staff of the Recovery Center.
For nocturnal birds it is very important that the release is close to sunset. and, in the case of the owls of Tenerife, the ravines and coastal cliffs with nearby cultivation areas constitute the main enclaves.
The barn owl is listed as a ‘vulnerable’ species due to the evident decline in its populations. The causes of this decline are mainly due to the abusive use of anticoagulant pesticides and rodenticides, which cause the death of these animals due to secondary poisoning.
The barn owl is a bird that feeds its chicks with at least four or five daily mice during the breeding period. This evidences the biological control that owls develop, as well as other wild birds against rodents.
