See The Universe Through The Sparkling Eyes Of Saved Blind Owl

He may not be able to see you, but he’s sure to capture your heart the second you look into his eyes. We are talking about a Western screech owl who has the internet buzzing with his beautiful presence. 

In 2012, some homeowners in Southern California were going about their day when they found an owl on their front porch. It was a Western screech owl. He seemed to have been gravely injured and was unable to fly. 

It is not uncommon for owls to get injured due to collisions with vehicles. Some species are more prone to such accidents because they forage almost the same height as the ongoing traffic. This time, the particular owl they rescued just flew into the side of their house, hitting the wall hard. 

A trip to the well-equipped rehabilitation center nearby was a blessing for the injured screech owl. The vet took extra care in thoroughly examining the bird. Since 1984, the center has been a passionate advocate for wildlife in their county, making rescue and rehabilitation of birds and animals their primary mission. 

The veterinarian who examined the owl was fascinated with his eyes, which seemed to hold the entire galaxy in their depths. He hadn’t seen anything like it before. The people who brought him in for a thorough check-up had noticed his mesmerizing eyes, too, and were so taken in by their beauty that they felt an immediate kinship with the cute bird. 

It is generally believed that our eyes are the windows to our soul, and Zeus had the most unique one. Those who looked at his peepers couldn’t turn away from him without gushing about the starry night they witnessed. 

The gorgeous landscape of kaleidoscopic galaxies that one can see in his eyes led people to name him after the Greek God of the skies and thunder, Zeus. It’s a perfect name for the wondrous bird! 

While Zeus is charming the world with his spectacular peepers, the fact remains that he is unable to see as a result of a traumatic eye injury he sustained during his younger days. The white flecks you spot glistening in his eyes are caused by blood pigment and protein clots. 

Zeus’ starry eyes are a sight to behold but his condition is unfortunate because owls generally have incredible eyesight. Since they are nocturnal creatures, they must have exceptional eyesight to navigate under the pitch darkness of the night. Their wide range of vision is considered binocular vision, allowing them to see objects in 3 dimensions. 

He may not have the blessings of regular eyesight, but Zeus is extraordinary in his own unique ways. Unfortunately, the veterinary ophthalmologist who examined him thoroughly stated that he had only ten percent of his vision left, making it incredibly difficult to survive in the wild on his own. 

The rehabilitation center he was brought to for treatment took excellent care of the owl. He regained his strength under the care of the wildlife staff, who had also fallen in love with the bird and his fantastic eyes. 

Once he was released from the PCW, who took outstanding care of him, he was moved to the Wildlife Learning Center in Sylmar. The news of his non-eligibility for release into the wild made him a permanent resident at the center. 

Zeus quickly adapted to his life at the WLC; he had already become one of its cherished occupants, drawing more than his share of attention from the staff. Everyone loved his calm nature and big personality. He often exhibited immense curiosity about things and the people around him. 

His peaceful presence often made him look like a stuffed toy, and visitors didn’t notice him until he was pointed out, and then they noticed his galaxy eyes. Then, the world turned topsy-turvy with excitement for them, especially for the kids who visited the center to look at their favorite birds and animals. 

In the past decade, since he was rescued by Californian homeowners and rehabilitated at the Learning Center, Zeus has become an internet celebrity with his unique eyes. News of his eyes that look like galaxies spread on the net like wildfire in 2014. 

Zeus has a significant social media presence with a huge fan following, full of those who want to know more about him. It is clear from the pictures of him shared by the center that he even has a toy friend, a fellow owl but only larger with deep yellow eyes. They hang out together a lot. 

In a world where even Hollywood celebrities find it tough to maintain constant visibility, Zeus has managed to keep people around the world curious about him and his astonishing eyes. All the media attention on him has made the general public aware of the plight of owls, making them care more about the screech owls and their conservation. 

For the most part, we can credit the home of Zeus, Wildlife Learning Center at Sylmar, for the amazing work they have put in to safeguard and nurture him with so much love and care over the years. It is a zoological park deep in the old olive grove in California’s San Fernando Valley. 

This is the reason we are here, right? For his spectacular eyes that sparkle and make us wish we could reside permanently in those starry depths? Once you look at them, you’ll remember his peepers forever. 

Zeus loves to be around people, and it’s a good thing he meets so many visitors daily at the center. Everyone adores him, and he certainly is one of the place’s main attractions. His disability has spread awareness about our environment and the plight of screech owls.