GA-Midnight Cruise
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
- Messages
- 122
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-24 C (Sterndrive)
- Non-Fluid Motion Model
- R21, Square Grouper: R21, Goliath: R21, Sweet Pea
- Vessel Name
- St. Brendan
I have St. Brendan back in GA and was wanting to get an early start today. The lake fog was heavy so I waited until daybreak and proceeded out onto Lake Lanier. The smooth water reflecting the fog filtered sky faded into each other and after 5 minutes out of the marina and appearing 25 yards off my bow was an owl that had gotten disoriented and had crashed into the frigid lake. No telling how long it was afloat but he was obviously distressed. When he saw me approaching he was determined to get aboard flapping and attempting to tread water with his talons toward the boat. He was unable to achieve any lift and made 4 or five attempts at the bow. Although stunning creatures, these little guys pack a nasty wallop and can do some damage. He was exhausted and after a couple of attempts to help him aboard, I decided to lower the swim ladder and backed up to him. He jumped right onto the highest rung of the ladder getting most of his body out of the water. I put the tug in gear and just slowly idled him to shore. Funniest sight was that it looked like an owl water skiing. When shore appeared 50 or so yards away, he/she lept in the direction of land at first sighting. Swimming for shore like it had made it's way to me initially. The only problem, it was swimming into a 3 foot sea wall at a park. I followed him all the way to the sea wall and after futile attempts at the wall it stood shaking in 6-8" of water completely exhausted. I docked the boat at the ramp dock and made my way to the sea wall. Where I found the creature floating lethargically in the same spot. I grabbed a substantial branch, lowered it under it's breast. It made no attempts to grab it, his wings just draping each side of the branch like a wet towel. Remarkably the effect balanced the bird and allowed me to lift him up onto the sea wall. At this point it was no longer shivering but twitched every few seconds and was unresponsive. It was not looking good for this little guy who previously was so determined to survive. I ran back to the boat grabbed a dry towel, cocooned the bird and seizing his talons at the wrists (if you call them that)?? Placed him in the pilot house just below the heater. He continued to twitch for 10 minutes then resumed to shivering. This was improvement! He shivered for about 30 minutes and then stopped shivering. Its breathing had steadied/improved but was exhausted. It slept there for four hours. I had been on the phone with Animal Rescue but there was no interest on their part at assisting, so I was on my own. Lacking any expertise but with measureable improvement, I secured him once again in the towel and walked him up to a park structure with an open trussed roof. I raised him up onto the truss where it lept for the timber and perched himself. I'll forgive the little guy for the poop stream as it lept. Keep your talons crossed he'll make it!
