Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Great-Horned Owl Receives Feather Graft, Flies Quietly After Rescue

5/16/2026

36 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Staff removed concrete from the owl’s face, chest and wing, cleaned the feathers, and performed a 90-minute imping—used by falconers for centuries—grafting ten primary and one secondary feather onto its right wing.
A decibel meter measured the owl’s wingbeat as it flew out of a large aviary, confirming quiet flight.
The rescued great-horned owl from southwestern Utah was treated at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab and has been released.

1 of 1

Story summary

Staff removed concrete from the owl’s face, chest and wing, cleaned the feathers, and performed a 90-minute imping—used by falconers for centuries—grafting ten primary and one secondary feather onto its right wing.
A decibel meter measured the owl’s wingbeat as it flew out of a large aviary, confirming quiet flight.
The rescued great-horned owl from southwestern Utah was treated at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab and has been released.