Several rehabilitated Great Horned Owls will find themselves released back into the North Okanagan. In collaboration with the South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls (SORCO) and the Allan Brooks Nature Centre (ABNC), the young owls will be released at Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary Aug. 27 at 6 p.m.
Interested members of the public are invited to watch, respectfully, the owl release which will take place at 12408 Coldstream Creek Rd., by donation to SORCO. The release will be followed by a presentation at ABNC on Birdfinding in B.C.
The Great Horned owlets were found orphaned in their Vernon nest in spring 2013. Concerns of local residents alerted SORCO staff who arranged for volunteer transport of the owlets to the Oliver clinic. They arrived at the centre when they were too young to eat. SORCO staff cared for the birds and facilitated the successful development of these healthy young adult owls, now ready to be released.
Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary offers open forest habitat for prey and secure cover for the owls as well as good connectivity to Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. Typically, the very adaptable Great Horned Owls disperse as juveniles in search of company and a territory to take up permanent residence.
“It’s remarkable how resilient nature is,” says Aaron Deans, ABNC executive director. “And amazing how nature adapts beyond its fragility in order to survive. Organizations like SORCO exist to give some species a hand.”
The presentation to follow at the centre by Russell Cannings is appropriate for all levels of birding experience. Cannings recently co-authored Birdfinding in British Columbia with his father, Dick Cannings.
The talk is a part of the Summer Sunset Speakers Series presented at ABNC Tuesdays, by donation, until Oct. 1. Doors open at 7 p.m. and presentations begin at 7:30 p.m. ABNC is at 250 Allan Brooks Way in Vernon. For more information, call 250-260-4227.
