Birdland Celebrates International Owl Awareness Day
Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water is dedicating a day to celebrate the magical world of the owl this weekend.
Sunday, August 4th is International Owl Awareness Day and to mark the event, there will be a series of owl-based events and activities taking place at the popular Cotswolds’ attraction.
There will be a ‘Meet the Owl Encounter Session’ at 12.15 where visitors will be able to find out all about Birdland’s newest arrival, a hand-reared three-month-old baby Chaco owl from South America.
Found throughout Argentina and Paraguay the chaco owl’s main prey are small birds, mammals and other vertebrates, but will also feed on insects, spiders and scorpions. They are predominantly nocturnal hunters starting from dusk. During the daytime they roost mainly in dense bushes, trees, or even sometimes on the ground.
There will also be a special afternoon tour to see some the range of owls on display including snowy owls, southern white faced owl, burrowing owl, spectacled owl and the awesome eagle owl.
From Aesop’s Fables to Harry Potter, the owl has been a source of constant fascination, folklore, myth and legend over the centuries.
International Owl Awareness Day aims to celebrate one of the most iconic bird species and raise awareness to their plight in the wild and what we can all do to help protect them.
With its combination of woodland, riverside and gardens, Birdland features more than 500 birds, ranging from king penguins and parrots to cassowaries and cranes in a mix of free-flying and aviary displays.