The Happy Ending

Several days after the rescue from the fireplace, we went to see "Timmy" at the wildlife center. He was clean and looked like a jailbird! The name Timmy seemed to fit: for those who remember Lassie, Timmy was always down in the well, needing a rescue. Those of you who watch South Park know the character Timmy, not the shiniest penny!

Timmy in jail, I mean at the spa!

Once we got a spiffy new cover on the fireplace, I don't think a hummingbird could get in now, it was time to bring our boy home! He was scheduled for his homecoming on Friday, but a couple of bobcat kittens (bobkittens?) needed more immediate attention and delayed his return until the next evening.

Saturday, around dusk, Nicole a volunteer from the Tucson Wildlife Center brought Timmy back. She told us how he had been clacking at her all the way across town and was a bit peeved from being caught in a net! She pulled the big box from the backseat of her car and we started learning more about the behavior of the great horned owl. They will eat carrion in the road and often get hit because they won't fly off! They are not nest builders. They prefer to appropriate a raven or red tailed hawk nest, rather than build their own! The great horned owl is an opportunist!

I wasn't sure it would be a good idea to use a flash to take pictures, but Nicole assured us he wouldn't get any pissier! So, I took a couple....

He really wanted Nicole!

Such a beautiful bird!

We had our photo moment and then Nicole released him. Timmy silently flew off to the east, no worse for his chimney and spa experience. His wingspan was nearly 5 feet! We haven't heard him in our neighborhood. It is possible he was intruding on another owl's territory the night he became trapped. Anyway, that's his story! I do hope to hear him again soon!