I have searched using the orange button but to no avail. I am preparing to mount a Tawny Owl. I read in my manual that you can mount the owl without removing the ears from the skull and putting the eyes in from outside in. My question is:
By not removing the ears and turning the head inside out, how do I get borax under the skin to preserve it. My thoughts are to inject a borax solution under the skin and run it around between the skull and skin. Will this create further problems?
Last time I completely skinned the head and the skin slipped badly.
Kindest regards
Return to Bird Taxidermy Category Menu
I would say go ahead and completely skin the head. I know screech owls can be inverted, but am not familiar with the Tawny. If you would like to reduce the stress on the skin and not invert then make a complete incision from the base the bill to the anus. This will open the entire bird up and allow for complete skinning of the skull without any undue stress... This will also allow you to study indepth where the neck attches to skull which is one of my biggest pet peeves on incorrectly done mounts.
Owls are so fluffy he incision will never show.
Good Luck,
Jon
First of all I hope you have a special permit to do this as its illegal to have in your posession without a permit . Just make a cut in the back of the head and skin it out , cut the ears and go to the beak . get all the meat out . Rick
You can invert the head on owls. They have large throats to swallow rats and such whole. If you use the real head pay close attention to the eye pedicals. They need to stay intact for accurate anatomical shape. You need to skin to the edge of the bill and remove all meat. Or, use an artificial head. E-mail me if you choose the latter. I assume you have proper paperwork and permits?
Being a resident of the UK, I only need an Article 10 if I sell the Owl to a customer (ironically - if I give the owl as a present then this documentation is not need. This is European law for you, it is full of nonsense).
i will try the formentioned as I have a second owl to do. Many thanks for your help
Kindest regards