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...