Tonka

Origin of her name:
Name means "Great" or "Big" in Lakota, therefore, Tonka Owl means "Great Owl". Wakan Tonka literally translates to "Spirit Great" in Lakota.

Species:
Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl)

Status as of November 1, 2015:
Okay to work - but please check with staff to make sure weather conditions are safe for this older, arthritic bird (not too hot, not too windy, etc.)

Rescue Story:
Admitted September of 1991 covered in substance from a sludge pit (she was found IN the sludge pit) and with extensive muscle damage to her left wing (likely from her struggles to get out of sludge pit).

All images on this page are also links to high resolution images good for printing.

Favorite Photos:

	Tracy helped me find this nice image in the Willowbrook Photo Library.
	I like this photo of Tonka with Ron. I like how Tonka is looking directly at the camera.
	This photo of Tonka and Anne Marie was taken in the winter of '08-'09 near the compost pile. She used it on some of her holiday cards in '08 and '09. (The higher resolution photo has Tonka's redeye removed.)
	Nancy White with Tonka in the Butterfly Garden. Nancy, is there a story that goes with this photo?
	Tonka and Wendy. Wendy, is there a story that goes with this photo?
	A particularly nice image of Tonka.
	This is a photo of Tonka that Pat C. sent in. A photography student took it when they were visiting Willowbrook. This photo has a nice angle and softness, and it's framed well... it's just very nice to look at. (This image is not a link.)
	This sketch of Tonka was made February 7, 2010, when an illustration class came to Willowbrook. It was made on the spot from a live Tonka by Karen Johnson. Lovely! (See a similar sketch of Otis made on the same day.) This image is not a link.

Favorite Stories:

From Anne Marie:

Once, when I had Tonka on the glove and she was "in a mood", she baited one too many times and found herself hanging upside down from her leash. After focusing on getting her righted and organized, I turned back to the people I had to been talking with and saw that a father (who had been holding a little girl in his arms) had let the little girl lean alllll the way back until she was hanging upside down... and he said "you're an owl!" The girl was smiling from ear to ear.