Otis
Origin of her name:
Her name comes from the genus name for her species Otus asio, although her species name has recently changed to Megascops asio. Also named because she was originally thought to be male because of her somewhat smaller size for an adult screech... until she was put in an enclosure with Ayasha (thought to be female) and Otis laid eggs!
Species:
Megascops asio (Eastern Screech Owl)
Status:
Died in Fall of 2014 after 16 years as an ambassador for her species.
Rescue Story:
Admitted October of 1998 with a broken right wing. She was probably struck by a car. There was hope of rehabilitating and releasing her, but she chewed off her bandages and broke her wing in different place that couldn't heal properly.
All images on this page are also links to high resolution images good for printing.
Favorite Photos:
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This CLASSIC photo of Otis biting the glove was submitted by Nancy Mores. Thanks Nancy! |
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Another classic shot of Otis peeking out of her nest box. Thanks Ron! |
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I couldn't decide which of two to post, this one or the full shot above... so I've posted both. :-) |
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This lovely photo (and the one at the top of the page) was taken by Suzanne Wegener who creates and shows her own artwork. She plans to use these photos of Otis (and others she took of Ayasha) for a series of works. Suzanne (with her artist's eye) pointed out that you can see some brown around the edge of Otis's eye in this photo, that you can't see in most others. |
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Otis looks a bit spooked in this photo - as she often is.
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This is a particularly good photo of Otis. She looks so petite! |
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Karen B. with Otis. |
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This photo of Otis and Anne Marie was taken during the Cage Rage fund raiser in Fall of '08. Otis was looking particularly good that day. |
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Otis with a baby she fostered in 2009. |
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The sketch was made of Otis on February 7, 2010, when an illustrators group came to visit. This was made on the spot from a live Otis by Karen Johnson. (See a similar sketch of Tonka made on the same day.) |
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This photo of Otis was taken on February 7, 2010, by one of the illustrators who came to visit. The same illustrator made the sketch above. (This image is not a link.) |
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Here's Otis and one of her 2010 foster owlets.
I'm not sure who took this, but Tracy D. sent it to me for posting. Otis is such a good foster mom! |
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Stephanie took this fabulous photo of Otis molting in Fall of 2011. |
Favorite Stories:
From Anne Marie:
I love to tell people when they oooo and awwww over Otis that she has a feisty side too. I tell them that she bites the glove every time we get her. I also tell her rescue story of how she bit off her own bandages, and broke her wing in another place that couldn't be rehabed. It makes people see owls in a different, more realistic way. I love her ferociousness. I think that's what makes her an excellent foster mom.
From Ron on September 18th, 2014
Dear RVI’s and Staff,
I found Otis, our grey morph education screech owl, passed away in her nest box this morning. She didn’t look good when I gave her meds yesterday. She was groggy and moving slow. She was not her usual feisty self.
Otis in her younger years was a very feisty owl. Those of you who have been in the program for a while might remember when we housed our small raptors in the converted latrine next to the koi pond. When I would go in to man her, she sat on a high shelf in the opposite corner from where we walked in. She would glare at you and launch herself right at your head. In later years, once they were moved to the raptor dorms, she would do the same aerial attack during the spring season from the top of her nest box. She wasn’t as mobile as she once was but her fiery spirit was just as alive.
Otis came to us in October 1998. I started as a volunteer at Willowbrook in early 1999 and she, along with Tonka, was one of the first birds I ever worked with. I’ll miss my old, feisty friend.