Scops owl with traumatic brain injury (Swiss Stories 2025, by Michael Buholzer) - Swiss Press Award

Amber Gooijer of the Birds of Prey Station holds a scops owl, which is recovering from a traumatic brain injury following an accident, during a check-up at the Birds of Prey Station, on Friday, May 31, 2024 in Berg am Irchel, northern Switzerland. The scops owl measures just under 15 centimeters in height and weighs 95 grams. Scops owls are the second smallest owl species in Switzerland and are very rare. It is estimated that there are only around 30 to 40 pairs in Switzerland. At the PanEco Foundation's Greifvogelstation, a bird of prey station in Berg am Irchel, Switzerland wild birds such as kestrels, tawny owls, buzzards and owls are treated and cared for, currently around 40 birds.