Sherman

Short-eared owls are on Indiana’s endangered list which means their prospect “for survival or recruitment within the state are in immediate jeopardy and are in danger of disappearing from” Indiana. We are fortunate to have two Short-eared Owls as education birds so we can tell people the importance of raptors and protecting their environment.   Sherman came from our friend, wildlife rehabber Ken Groves and is one of our original three education birds.  Sherman had an encounter with an airplane and did not fare well.  Short-eared Owls hunt in open fields and plains, so it is no surprise that they like to hunt in the well groomed areas around the planes’ runways.  Fortunately for Sherman, she didn’t die in the encounter, but she did lose part of the end of one wing.  She was added to our education permit in 2008.   Sherman shares her mew with her friend:  Skylar, another short-Eared Owl. Short-eared owls like to nest on the ground, so she and Skylar have a shelter close to the ground in which they like to perch together.   Sherman has a slightly nervous personality, but does well once she is on the glove for presentations.  Short-eared Owls are named for small tufts of feathers on the top of their head that they stick straight up when they are relaxed.  So watch for the ear tufts to see how relaxed she is or isn’t!