Vinkel is a little Wood Owl that lives at the Dullstroom Bird of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre. When he was a little chick he fell out of his nest. Well-meaning humans picked him up and tried to hand-raise him, feeding him a mix of minced meat and – shockingly – cotton wool; a horribly incorrect tip they found on the internet, supposedly meant to simulate the hair and feathers that owls normally ingest and then regurgitate as owl pellets. As a result, little Vinkel’s growth was stunted and he imprinted on humans, meaning that he can never be released into the wild – thankfully he made it to Dullstroom in time for his life to be saved. I think it is also necessary to mention at this point that any little bird found out of its nest is best returned to it or as close as can be to its parents if at all possible – it is not true that the parent birds, of any species, will reject a chick because it “smells” of human.
As a registered NGO receiving no government support, the Dullstroom Bird of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre relies heavily on donors, sponsors and the visiting public to fund their very important work. Their tiny staff compliment is responsible for the rehabilitation of between 80 and 200 birds of prey every year, all of them injured by or negatively impacted in another way by humans, and then releasing them back into the wild when they’ve recovered sufficiently. If you can’t visit them in person, please visit their website and, if you are able to, assist them in their efforts by making a donation (monetary or in kind).
DeWetsWild 
This little guy is a real fighter! I am so glad he made it safely to the centre and appears to be thriving now. I agree, it’s important for well-meaning folks to understand what to (or not to) do when coming across baby creatures…
Indeed, Takami. Even when trying to do good we can do more harm if we don’t know the how’s and why’s. Thankfully the doors of places like the Dullstroom Bird of Prey and Rehab. Centre is always open to lend a helping hand.
Poor little chap – it is horrifying what well-meaning but misguided people can inflict on animals. At least he ended up getting proper care even though too late for him to be rehabilitated and released. He will at least be a wonderful ambassador for owls and for the centre.
You are so right, Carol. Little Vinkel carries a whole lot of responsibility on those tiny shoulders of his.
Seems he is up for the challenge as he just oozes charm and is so compelling.
Vinkel looks to be thriving there in spite of his shaky beginning. How wise he looks. 🤓
I don’t know about “wise”, Sylvia. To me he looks more like the scientist from Back to the Future, very clever but so scatter brained! 😀
But, he is so adorable and gets deep into your heart so quickly after meeting him.
I can imagine. 😍
Ek is so bly hulle kon hom red! My gesin is vreeslik lief vir uile en in Eshowe het ons ‘n paar Wood Owls in ons tuin gehad. Hier in Langebaan is daar gelukkig ook nog baie uile. As jy dalk op Facebook is kyk gerus hierna: Owls of Langebaan Die Uil paar het nou al 3 jaar in die dame se blombak op haar stoep nes gemaak en haar kuikens daar grootgemaak!
Ai dit is wonderlik, Aletta!
Eshowe met sy woud en mooie tuine is net die plek vir bosuile!
Ek sal beslis bietjie gaan kyk na die Langebaan-uile, dankie!
Such a handsome boy. Sorry to hear of his rough start, but certainly seems like he has landed in a good spot.
I’m sure he’s wise enough (he is an owl after all!) to count his blessings!
I hope Vinkel will live the rest of his life peacefully and well cared for.
I’m sure that’s just what the staff at the centre has planned for him, Hien, and they need our support to achieve it.
So good to see sweet Vinkel is now receiving the care he needs, what an adorable little bird! 💚
He’s definitely adorable in the extreme, Xenia.
You highlight how much misleading ‘advice’ there is on the internet and from well-meaning, yet ignorant, do-gooders (e.g. the ‘smell of humans’ bit). People are horrified when I suggest leaving a chick alone – keeping an eye on it or protecting it from cats or dogs is different altogether. The poor owlet being fed cotton wool! We once had no option but to hand rear a Burchell’s Coucal chick that had been savaged by someone’s pet – we ended up breeding mice to feed it!
That must have been quite an undertaking, Anne – I imagine that a growing coucal would have a voracious appetite!
I am pleased to say it reached a point when it could fly away of its own accord.
Well done!
De Wet, jy het nou behoorlik aan my hartsnare geraak met jou skrywe oor Vinkel. Ek het ń groot liefde vir hulle, veral omdat ons ń familie nonnetjies uile vir jare lank in ons plafon gehad het. Saans het hulle al vier op ń tak vir ons sit en kyk, so asof hulle ons verdra om in hulle huis te bly.
Uile is baie belangrike voels en dit is wonderlik dat jul hul so goed opgepas het, Una. Veral jou bure kan ook baie dankbaar wees teenoor julle!
Hoekom die bure, de Wet?
Want jul uile het ook hul erwe veilig gehou teen elke pes en plaag. So ñ uil gesin kan n hele buurt se rotte en muise lag-lag onder beheer hou.
Sowaar! Ek wonder nou hoekom het ek nog nie uile in hierdie Bird Sanctuary waar ons nou bly, gesien het nie. Dink jy dit is te na aan die dam?
Nee wat, ek dink hul kruip nog net te goed weg – een dag wanneer jy dit die minste verwag gaan jy een raaksien.
Dit is so maklik om die voeltjies op te tel en te probeer grootmaak. Ongelukkig is dit nie die beste manier nie want mens weet tog nie regtig wat hul eet nie. Die rehabilitasie plekke is tog maar die beste plek of soos jy noem, naby nes of waar ouers is. Ouers kom tog maar kyk waar kuiken skree of piep. Mooi ou wollerige uil.
Jy is heeltemal reg, Ineke – die oulikheid van klein voeltjies maak dat mens wil help, maar op die kort en lang duur kan jy in jou onkunde meer skade doen as goed.
Poor little thing… I thank the Rehab. Centre for the tremendous care for these birds. 🙂
As do we, H.J. They really do marvelous work and deserve our support.
By the way, I noticed now that my subscription to your blog was disabled in one way or another. Rather disconcerting as I’ve obviously missed out on a bunch of your special posts. I’ve signed up again and hope to catch up soon!
Vinkel is lucky he has found somewhere that he can be safe and looked after. He looks like a dear little fellow.
He is every bit as dear he looks, Anne, and then some!
So glad they are getting cared for.
Indeed, Irene – the value of places like the Dullstroom Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Centre cannot be overstated.
Running a little behind here evidently as I just got done reading and commenting on the post prior to this one. Vinkel is so cute, but what a shame he can’t be released into the wild. Good thin he made it here where he can not only live safely but share his handsomeness with visitors, in person or virtual. 🙂
janet
“Ag shame!” is a uniquely South African exclamation whenever we see something cute and cuddly. You should have heard the chorus of “Ag shame”s when little Vinkel was brought to the presentation, Janet. He does melt your heart.