Owl Enlightment

Keeping true to our restraint-free policy, we recently delivered an educational talk for the WI — and what an evening it was! I took five owls, each one a testament to the time and patience we’ve invested in shaping behaviour through trust rather than control. It’s always a nerve-wracking moment when you open that crate and let an owl step into a new environment. Once that door opens, the owl has total freedom and choice. In a  large room full of people, that can feel like a leap of faith — but it’s also the most honest reflection of what we stand for. One of our southern white-faced owls decided that the curtain pole was the perfect perch for quite a long time but he did come down eventually so then we could introduce the other owls.  The others followed their training beautifully, showing calm confidence and connection. And then there was Loki, true to form — wandering under chairs, circling the room, making sure everyone noticed her cheeky personality! And you know what? Pe...

When I first bought Kopi,( he was my break up owl, I had come out of a very toxic relationship and wanted to put my attention on to something positive) I truly believed I was bringing home a bird who could immediately become part of our experiences. The person I bought him from had an animal activity licence, so I assumed he had already been cared for and trained appropriately. But when I arrived to collect him, the scene broke my heart. They were holding him tightly and snuggling into him — and from his body language all I could see pure terror. When I finally got KOPI home, I realised just how much he’d been through. His anklets were far too big, made of old, stiff leather, and attached with dog clips — completely unsuitable for any bird. When I released him into the large aviary, he flew straight into the wall. He had no spatial awareness whatsoever, and it became painfully clear that he had probably been tethered for most, if not all, of his three years of life. We had to cover the...

  In the three years since receiving our official licence, we’ve grown, learned, and evolved more than we ever imagined. This past year has marked a particularly profound shift in the way we care for and work with our owls. We’ve moved fully towards a restraint-free, cooperative care philosophy—one that places trust, welfare, and respect at the very centre of our practice. Everything is always changing, and we, too, evolve as human beings. Growth means listening, reflecting, and having the courage to do things differently when we know better. This journey has transformed not only the lives of the owls in our care but also the hearts and minds of everyone who visits or volunteers with us. From Control to Cooperation In the early days, like many working with birds of prey, our approach was influenced by traditional methods—techniques that often relied on control, routine restraint, and compliance. But as we learned more about owl behaviour, psychology, and emotional well-being, we ...

As you know I am in the process of starting Owl therapy and Owl rescue centre.  I feel I have been led down this path and I wanted to share all wonderful interactions that I've encountered on the way and there has been so many.  I can’t go out with the owls without it having a huge effect on people or myself.   I remember the day it all started as it was an experience I will never forget.  I was walking Weebles my Barn owl at the nature reserve and I bumped into a couple walking a dog.  I always get stopped by people when out so it didn’t think much about it.  Weebles was still quite young and lacked confidence so imagine my surprise when he hopped straight from my glove onto the ladies shoulder and started chirping in her ear with sounds that he had only done  previously with me! The lady then started crying and I was worried that somehow Weebles had hurt her.   The lady then explained that their dog had been diagnosed with a severe and aggressiv...