Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food & Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

State orders pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine administration as…

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

Marion school board votes 5-2 to no longer consider ’Mavericks’

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

24-hour COVID-19 vaccine clinic to take place this weekend

US recommends 'pause' for J&J COVID-19 vaccine over clot reports

Cedar Rapids clinic to receive federal COVID-19 allocation starting this…

Public funeral in Independence planned Friday for slain Iowa trooper…

Home / Living / Pets & Animals

Owl injured on UI campus released

N/A Mar. 28, 2014 4:38 pm Updated: Mar. 28, 2014 4:38 pm

With a tentative hand out stretched, Brian Leal graspes on to two sharp claws of a small striped owl. Quickly guiding the small bird in the air, the owl outstretches its wings to take off to a nearby pine tree. Not a month earlier, the fate of the owl that Leal has now grown attached to was very different. Leal had found the owl in a pool of blood at the Pappajohn Business Building, having suffered an injured beak and brain damage after flying in to one of the building's many windows.

"I was studying for an exam and I saw the owl fly in the window," the University of Iowa freshman said. "I came over to it to see a red dot, and then I just went to find someone to see what could be done. And here we are today."

Vicki Vavra, the associate director for the business undergraduate program, along with other business faculty quickly came to help Leal, who waited five hours with the owl until she was taken away. The college was having a large visitor day with roughly 400 prospective students, but Vavra wanted to help the injured owl.

"I knew to call the [Macbride] Raptor Project, but when they didn't answer it became a phone game for someone to try and take responsibility," Vavra said. "We're just so thrilled; we can't wait to see it recovered."

The Macbride Raptor Project, 2095 Mehaffey Bridge Rd NE, Solon, aims to help Iowa's raptors and preserve their natural habitats. The project specialist, Luke Hart, had the  one-year-old owl spend three weeks in rehabilitation and a week of flight training to ensure its health.

Hart said having birds such as owls and hawks is common for cities and wouldn't be surprised if other owls had run into the windows at the UI building. He said he hopes administration may take measures to help coat the windows with a UV tint, which alerts the birds of the danger.

"This building has sides that are almost completely windows," he said. "[The UV window tint] has proven to be a deterrent. We're here and [animals] are here, and we need to find a way to live comfortably together."

Looking forward, Leal hopes through saving the baby owl, others can take note of the importance of nature and the animals that inhabit it.

"There are so many [animals] around us," the Texas native said. "I want people just to see how beautiful creatures are."

Trending

  • Iowa City man faces life in prison for sexually abusing…

    Trish Mehaffey

  • Johnson & Johnson vaccine put on pause in Iowa as…

    Michaela Ramm

  • 24-hour vaccine clinic in Cedar Rapids this weekend open to…

    Michaela Ramm

  • University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

    Vanessa Miller

  • Ramadan starts tonight. An eighth-grader explains what it’s like to…

    Grace King

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Top dogs perform at Linn County Fair

Top dogs perform at Linn County Fair

N/A News Jun. 28, 2012 10:15 am

Dogs, guns among options to reduce geese in Cedar Rapids

Dogs, guns among options to reduce geese in Cedar Rapids

News Jun. 7, 2012 10:10 pm

Iowa gets federal grant to study white-nose syndrome in bats

Iowa gets federal grant to study white-nose syndrome in bats

Erin Jordan News Jun. 27, 2013 4:32 pm

Pets & Animals

Owl injured on UI campus released

Owl injured on UI campus released

N/A

Pets & Animals Mar. 28, 2014 4:38 pm

Nature Center celebrates 40 years

Nature Center celebrates 40 years

N/A

Health & Wellness Feb. 1, 2014 3:30 pm

Video: Cedar Rapids Police, kids battle on dodgeball court

Video: Cedar Rapids Police, kids battle on dodgeball court

Jim Slosiarek

News Feb. 1, 2014 7:00 am

Two Eastern Iowa puppies play in Sunday's Animal Planet Puppy…

Two Eastern Iowa puppies play in Sunday's Animal Planet Puppy…

N/A

News Jan. 31, 2014 10:30 am

Life

Sowing Success

Sowing Success

Dorothy de Souza Guedes

Home & Garden Apr. 11, 2021 1:45 pm

Twisters gymnastics teams shine at state tournaments

Twisters gymnastics teams shine at state tournaments

Community

Recreation Apr. 9, 2021 12:46 pm

Find the perfect quilt this weekend at Quilt Amana, inaugural…

Find the perfect quilt this weekend at Quilt Amana, inaugural…

Diana Nollen

Community Apr. 7, 2021 2:03 pm

Iowa Senate passes mental health funding changes

Iowa Senate passes mental health funding changes

Rod Boshart

State Government Apr. 6, 2021 9:59 pm

News

Time Machine: Train rides were a treat for Eastern Iowa…

Time Machine: Train rides were a treat for Eastern Iowa…

Diane Fannon-Langton

History Apr. 12, 2021 5:33 pm

Public funeral in Independence planned Friday for slain Iowa trooper…

Public funeral in Independence planned Friday for slain Iowa trooper…

Associated Press

Crime and Courts 3h ago

US recommends 'pause' for J&J COVID-19 vaccine over clot reports

US recommends 'pause' for J&J COVID-19 vaccine over clot reports

Associated Press

Health Care and Medicine 4h ago

Virtual EcoFest focuses on tree replenishment for Earth Day

Virtual EcoFest focuses on tree replenishment for Earth Day

Elijah Decious

Community Apr. 13, 2021 7:16 am

Sports

Prairie boys, Solon girls stay on top in area track…

Prairie boys, Solon girls stay on top in area track…

Jeff Linder

Sports 3h ago

Kelly Proesch finds her own niche, writes her own success…

Kelly Proesch finds her own niche, writes her own success…

Jeff Linder

Sports Apr. 12, 2021 9:21 pm

Kirkwood ready for national volleyball tournament

Kirkwood ready for national volleyball tournament

K.J. Pilcher

Sports Apr. 12, 2021 7:42 pm

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Ben Visser

Sports Apr. 12, 2021 6:49 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company