After 2 Months of Rest, a Tiny Owl Returns to the Wild

Daniel Avila, N.Y.C. Parks and Recreation A saw-whet owl found in Brooklyn in October was released by parks officials on Wednesday.

“Here's an owl.”

Those words, spoken by an anonymous Samaritan, began a journey of recovery for an injured raptor found in a Sea Gate, Brooklyn, backyard in early October. Owl Jolson, as the tiny creature was dubbed, was delivered in a shoe box to the city parks department's headquarters in Central Park, stunned and unable to fly. The owl, a juvenile of undetermined sex, was identified as a northern saw-whet owl, a species native to Canada but known to enjoy New York City's relatively balmy winters.

The bird's injuries - head trauma, a droopy wing and some inflammation - were not deemed grave. After two months at wildlife rehabilitation center on Long Island the bird was released in Central Park on Wednesday afternoon, taking flight like a “Harry Potter” character with an urgent message to deliver.

Daniel Avila, N.Y.C. Parks and Recreation Two park rangers, Rob Mastrianni, left, and Eric Handy, released the recovered owl at Cen tral Park's Shakespeare Garden.