Cuteness Alert: Finnish Kayaker Rescues Owl From Lake, Takes Awesome Picture

[Cali_Democrat]

Whoooooo's that in the distance?

That was the question on Pentti Taskinen's lips when he was paddling out on Finland's Lake Tuusula on Sunday. Once his kayaker got closer, he noticed that the moving figure jutting out of the water was not an otter or another marine mammal, but an owl.

Fearing the bird would die of hypothermia, Taskinen rowed closer and helped the owl onto the front of his kayak

<...>

After the owl climbed aboard, it cuddled up to Taskinen and nestled itself partially under his life vest while he paddled back to shore. (Awww.) Once the bird -- believed to be a northern hawk owl -- dried off and regained its strength, it was able to fly away on its own.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/kayaker-saves-owl-finland-lake-tuusula_n_4236001.html

[adirondacker]

1. Hawk owls are way cool! There are some in my neck of the woods (actually fields).

They are a rarity. They hunt and fly very similar to a hawk and are diurnal. A neighbor had a pair in his field and got to watch them one afternoon through binoculars.

I love owls. I have a pair of Great Horned that nested a few hundred feet from my place. Get to hear them every evening.

Thanks for posting!

[UtahLib]

2. Lucky little owl to have been found by a caring person. n/t

[BlancheSplanchnik]

3. awww...sweet little baby.

So glad s/he was saved! :')

[Blue Owl]

4. Magnifique!

A tip of the hat to that groovy kayaker...

[sarge43]

6. Second that

[BrotherIvan]

18. What you said!

[Hekate]

5. Aw. He looks a little embarrassed to be caught in that position, paddling in a lake f'godsake.

I'm glad he's okay.

[MsPithy]

7. I'm reading his thought bubble as,

"I meant to do that!"

[eppur_se_muova]

13. LOL! DUzy ! nt

[ailsagirl]

8. Cute little guy

[Boudica the Lyoness]

9. I have successfully saved two owls

One was in the middle of the road, out cold. The other was sitting in a busy parking lot. I kept them for a week or two until they could fly okay and let them go. They are real survivors.

[lucca18]

16. A thank you to you!

Thank you for caring and saving the owls!

[mrsadm]

10. Way too cool!

Sending to my brother who is a kayaker.

[penndragon69]

11. Prety bird, Pretty bird !

[Ilsa]

12. How I thought the story might conclude:

Once the bird -- believed to be a northern hawk owl -- dried off and regained its strength, it was able to eat the kayaker's intestines.

We love birds, especially owls. Neat creatures.

[SunSeeker]

14. K & R

[840high]

15. Aww - nice

[shenmue]

17. Awwwwww!

The sweetness!

[Catherine Vincent]

19. You're right

It's adorable.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

20. Very nice,

well done.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

21. SQUEEEEE! :)

[shenmue]

26. Double squee!

[Liberal_in_LA]

22. kick

[watoos]

23. Yah, Yah, it figures

Isn't Finland where they go to school for free? Damned Socialists. If Ayn Rand had been in that kayak she would have ignored that lazy owl, let the damn bird pull himself out by his feather straps. Perfect example of Socialist weakness. (where do I get that sarcasm thingy?)

[SoCalDem]

24. When I was in high school I rescued a barn owl

My friend and I were coming out of a Key Rexall, and it was just wandering around on the sidewalk..apparently with a hurt wing. It did not try to bite us when we approached. I took of f my coat and wrapped it up in the coat.. We went to the high school, hoping our biology teacher was still there.. He declared it to be a barn owl & said he would gladly take it home with him (his wife was a vet). They lived on a farm and the owl rehabbed in his barn, and stayed close to the farm for a good long while after it was recuperated..

[Auntie Bush]

25. What a cute little bird. Looks like he's enjoying a boat ride and getting warmed up.