We received notice that Great Horned Owl 23-338, admitted last week, tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The owl had died a few hours after admission. Barn Owl 23-341 was admitted on Wednesday. It was found in the Heppner area near where the Great Horned Owl was found, so out of an abundance of caution, the Barn Owl was tested for HPAI. They are typically not an HPAI high risk species and it tested negative for the virus.  23-341 had spinal trauma that did not respond to treatment so the owl was euthanized.

Sharp-shinned Hawk with a Ruptured Crop

Sharp-shinned Hawk 23-344 was seen being chased by a larger hawk. In his attempt to evade the larger predator, the Sharpie crashed into the side of a house. The home owner put the injured bird into a box and drove him from La Grande to Pendleton. Sadly, the hawk died within minutes of arrival. A necropsy the next day found bruising on both sides of his chest and a large amount of blood in his lungs and chest cavity. The poor hawk didn’t have a chance. 

Owl/hawk Radiograph

When looking at an x-ray, dense tissue like bone appears white. Less dense tissue like lungs and air sacs (in birds) containing air, appear black. In the x-ray above the owl’s air sacs and lungs are fairly normal. The hawk’s appear white because they are full of blood which is much denser than air.