Montreal resident Carrie MacPherson was returning from an estate sale on Doctor Penfield Avenue on Saturday around 11 a.m. when she noticed something was watching her.

The eyes belonged to a juvenile northern saw-whet owl, a nocturnal bird of prey that should not have been on the ground before noon on the busy Montreal street.

"He looked injured, and I felt really bad," said MacPherson, who decided to leave the bird there, hoping that he would find his way to safety.

She returned in the evening to check on the owl, this time bringing gloves and a basket in case the owl was still there.

"Sure enough, he was still there," said MacPherson. "She was super at risk because she couldn't fly and I also thought she must be dehydrated because she was at the same spot for at least eight hours."

MacPherson grew up on a farm and has a wealth of experience treating injured animals. She carefully took the bird home and called the city that recommended she keep the bird in a safe place before bringing him to a refuge centre.

She put her in a soft dog carrier and left her in a cool, dark place overnight.

On Sunday morning, a volunteer picked her up and took the bird to the university veterinary hospital in St-Hyacinthe (CHUV). The CHUV said the young owl was dehydrated and may have an injured wing, but she is recovering. 

Zoologist Nicki Fleming at the Montreal Ecomuseum Zoo said McPherson did "exactly the right thing" by collecting her and taking her home overnight.

"By realizing that an owl spending several hours on the ground in the same spot signalled a possible problem and calling professionals for advice, Carrie was able to help give this young saw-whet a second chance at life," said Fleming.

Fleming said that saw-whet owls are the smallest owl species in Quebec, weighing about the same as an apple. 

She said owls face many risks including eating insects or mice that have been poisoned by insecticides and rodenticides, being targetted by cats, or being hit by cars. 

"This is a vulnerable time of year for young birds that are leaving the nest and learning to fly, feed themselves and avoid predators," said Fleming. "In addition to these natural challenges, saw whet owls also face many additional threats due to the presence of humans in their natural environment."

With reporting from CTV News journalist Joe Lofaro.