GiGi, a wonderful horned owl, was entirely alone until she met the one guy who would certainly change her life forever.
GiGi was given Mississippi’s Wild in mind Rescue near the end of May after suffering serious brain injuries, which the rescue thinks was caused by a vehicle crash. Missy Dubuisson, founder and supervisor of Wild at Heart, informed The Dodo that she had a big concussion, parasites around her body, and an illness called aspergillosis, which is equivalent to pneumonia in people.
GiGi was so sick that she dropped a full pound of weight throughout her therapy, which was a great deal given wonderful horned owls usually weigh in between 2 and 5 pounds.
” This was among one of the most vital birds we’ve ever cared for,” Dubuisson included. “It’s incomprehensible that this bird has survived.”
Douglas “Doug” Pojeky, the rescue’s president and popularly known as the “birds of prey whisperer,” would be the person at the rescue who might assist GiGi regain her health.
” I have never seen someone with such a connection with these amazing creatures in all my years of dealing with birds of prey,” Dubuisson said.
GiGi went from knocking at “death’s door” to perching under Pojeky’s treatment, according to Dubuisson. She also progressed from being spoon-fed to being able to feed herself. GiGi had clearly grown to trust and appreciate Pojeky, and she made it clear in one of the most unexpected way.
Pojeky had gone to see family in Michigan, leaving GiGi alone for the time being. Pojeky returned and provided GiGi a complete checkup, after which she began bobbing her head and dance on his arm. She then moved carefully as much as his upper body, resting her head on his shoulder and covering her wings around him in a full-fledged owl embrace.
Just before she embraced Pojeky, she had a smile of pure happiness on her face, indicating how pleased she was to be rejoined with her favored person.
Pojeky informed The Dodo that being accepted by GiGi was truly meaningful to him. A great horned owl used to roost on the top of Pojeky’s family barn when he was a kid. Pojeky and the rest of his family seldom saw the owl, in spite of his father’s frequent sightings. The owl was sighted seeing the farm home where Pojeky’s dad had died on the morning of his father’s death, before flying off into the woods.
” When that bird hugged me, all I could think about was my father,” Pojeky explained.
GiGi will certainly be released back right into the wild after she has actually completely recovered. In the meanwhile, she might rely on Pojeky.
” Seeing him get in touch with these birds really brings tears to my eyes,” Dubuisson added. “They are completely familiar with him and have total faith in him. It’s the look of trust on her face.”
