Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Read more
An owl has been released back into the wild after it was rescued from a North Sea oil rig, after being blown off course by Storm Amy.
The female owl was discovered on the Noble Patriot platform, 180 miles off Shetland in Scotland, last week and was kept alive by its crew.
Offshore worker Sam Crowe succeeded in catching the owl after spotting it on the platform, and kept her fed and watered until she could be rescued by a wildlife sanctuary.
It is believed that the owl may have got into difficulties during the recent storm, which saw wind gusts reach 100mph and damage caused to buildings.
open image in gallery
It is believed the owl came into difficulties during Storm Amy (Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary)
Speaking to BBC Scotland, Mr Crowe said: “I managed to get my hands on it.
“Knowing it wasn’t going to survive out here, I made it a little home in a box, and got it some raw chicken and some water.”
While it was kept in comfort on the oil rig, arrangements were soon made for the owl to return to mainland for proper treatment.
The Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary said they were informed that the short-eared owl had landed in a “state of exhaustion” , and collected the “majestic bird” via a helicopter to bring it back to Scotland.
After an assessment by the local verse net, the owl was found to be in good shape but underweight, and was kept with ornithologist Phil Harris to be “fattened up on mice and chicks” before being released back into the wild.
open image in gallery
It was flown from the oil rig to the mainland on a helicopter (Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary)
“What a treat for everyone who came into contact with this beautiful creature. Many thanks to everyone involved in this rescue operation,” they said.
“She will have headed off on her first journey across the North Sea and hit the storm,” Mr Harris said. “They become exhausted very quickly.
“They will see the lights probably of an oil rig and even ships in the North Sea at night and they will use them as rest areas.”
He added that she is a “very lucky owl” as she had been provided with food which had given her a “lucky escape”.
Mr Harris added: “With the chicken she’d been fed and the warmth, she was actually quite strong.
“We’ve only had to care for her for three days, she was released on Monday. She devoured a lot of mice while she was with me and put on a lot of weight.”