Baby Barn Owl Back in Nest After Injury

There’s no place like home.

For a baby barn owl nicknamed Igor, home is the chimney he fell out of two weeks ago, suffering life-threatening injuries.

After being nursed back to health by workers from the Monte Nido-based California Wildlife Center, Igor was returned to his nest and family Tuesday.

He joined two siblings, one biological and the other adopted during Igor’s convalescence.

“We expect all three will survive,” said Rebecca Dmytryk, president of the wildlife center.

The barn owl--a white and brown bird found in Southern California--frequently nests in dark corners of buildings, such as the house chimney where Igor’s family lives in Agoura.

Igor had been living in the nest with one sibling and their mother. But the days-old chicks fell into a basket placed by the homeowner to catch owl droppings.

The homeowner called the wildlife center for help in treating the injured owls.

One of the birds was in good shape and was returned to the nest right away. Igor, however, couldn’t hold his head up, Dmytryk said. He was kept at the wildlife center to recover.

Meanwhile, an unrelated baby barn owl brought to the center was placed with Igor’s family as a sort of foster sibling.

Now that Igor has returned, the mother owl has three chicks.

The California Wildlife Center--which rescues and treats injured wildlife--contracts with the city of Malibu and Los Angeles County.

The center is on Piuma Road and is always looking for volunteers, said Dmytryk.