This past November, the Rockefeller Christmas tree had an unexpected resident. When workers unwrapped the massive tree after transporting it from Oneonta to New York City, they discovered a tiny, dehydrated, big-eyed owl huddled against the trunk.
The bird was a Northern Saw-whet Owl and her small size, bulging eyes, and beautiful facial feathers made her an instant celebrity in a world under lockdown. The internet ate up this feel-good story just in time for the holidays and people anxiously watched to see what would become of the hitchhiker in the big city.
They called her Rockefeller, or “Rocky” for short.
Small, but fierce
Saw-whets are among North America’s smallest owls – barely larger than a robin when fully grown. They are a creamy mottled-brown with a heart-shaped white facial disk. Their large yellow eyes dwarf their face and give them a permanent inquisitive, startled look. Rocky herself is a full-grown adult bird, despite the initial claims that a “baby owl” had been found in the tree.
Although small, Saw-whets are silent killers. They fly low in forests and fields, gliding without a sound. During the night, they pluck mice and other small mammals straight off the ground. They carry their food to a perch and kill it immediately with their sharp beak. Saw-whets can consume dozens of mice in a month, usually making multiple meals out of a single catch. When they hunt in the daytime, they go after insects and even other birds!
While hard to see, saw-whets can be very vocal. Their distinct too-too-too call announces their presence but it takes a sensitive eye to find them in the dark. In Rocky’s case, this is why she ended up a viral sensation.
An unlucky choice on a long journey
Saw-whets are no slackers when it comes to winter either. They do migrate, but many stick around in dense forests as far north as Maine and ride out the snow and ice. Rocky was most likely in the middle of her migration south for the winter when she was unexpectedly caught in the Rockefeller tree. Saw-whets live in forests across the entire continental US and Canada.
They head south in October and November. Some birds may fly all the way from Canada to southern Florida to escape the cold but like the hard-to-see owls, much about their movements remains a mystery.
Because they are so small, saw-whets don’t need a lot of trees or thick patches of forest to survive. Even a single dead tree in someone’s backyard can provide the perfect resting place for a tired owl. During the day, saw-whets often tuck themselves into cavities or hide in dense trees like spruces, pines, and hemlocks. This keeps them out of sight of predators like larger owls and safe from smaller birds, which may mob them if they discover them.
Rocky had probably bedded down in the designated Rockefeller tree for the day when the crew arrived to cut it down. Roused by the activity, Rocky chose to hide instead of fly away, causing her to be stuck inside the branches as the tree was felled, bound, and driven to New York. She stayed pressed against the trunk for 3 days, unable to fly away.
Where is Rocky now?
Thankfully, Rocky is one tough bird! The workers who found her took her to a wildlife rehabilitator outside the city to care for her properly. Her journey to the city left her hungry and dehydrated. But once rehabilitators started feeding her, she bounced right back. Rocky spent several days recovering in an upstate New York wildlife rehabilitation center eating mice and staying nice and warm. It wasn’t long before she was deemed fit to fly.
Rocky was released in upstate New York on November 24th, 2020 and took off strong. But her story isn’t over yet! Rocky was fitted with a small unique band before being released. If owl researchers such as Project Owlnet encounter her again, we can learn more about where she has traveled, how old she is, and what she has been up to since her famous trip to NYC. Her accidental hitchhiking could lead to a deeper understanding of owl migration and behavior. She is even being given a spot on the Frontier Airlines Fleet tails!
Rocky’s story resonated with people, and her recovery was a bright spot at the end of a very dark year. In a way, Rocky was the perfect symbol for 2020 – small but tough, hardy but beautiful. She experienced great discomfort and an unexpected trauma. But thanks to a supportive community and dedicated caregivers, she recovered and winged her way back to the life she should be living.
