Published: August 28, 2015
Owls set to go on show at Secret World’s August open weekend
These stunning owls are just some of the ‘nature’s hunters’ you can meet at Secret World Wildlife Rescue’s open weekend over the August bank holiday weekend.
The centre in East Huntspill aims to rescue, rehabilitate and release wildlife wherever possible, but they also house a few special residents like these owls, who play an important role in inspiring people to learn about and protect wildlife.
Visitors to Secret World will be able to get up close to the owls and other birds of prey during the centre’s open weekend from 29th-31st August.
Volunteer bird handler Helen Ditchfield told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I love seeing people’s reactions when they meet our birds of prey. Children and adults alike are fascinated by their patterns and features and often comment that they had never realised quite how beautiful these birds are.”
The team at Secret World has rescued thirty-seven owls already this year and is currently caring for a number of owlets on site who will be released back into the wild when they are big enough, including four orphaned barn owls.
Barn owls are a much-loved bird in the United Kingdom, with their beautiful white feathers and heart-shaped face. Sadly there are now fewer than 4,000 barn owls in this country however. Their decline has been partly due to exceptional wet weather, flooding in previous years and the use of rodent-killing poisons.
You can learn more about owls and how to protect them, as well as meeting foxes and other animals, at the Nature’s Hunters weekend. Secret World will be open from 10am-4pm on 29th, 30th and 31st August.
Entry will be free but all donations will be welcome and will help Secret World save more owls and other wildlife.
The centre is also in need of donations of wet food (tins or pouches) of dog, cat and kitten food to feed hungry badgers, foxes and hedgehogs.
Pictured: Top, volunteer bird handlers Helen Ditchfield and Colin Dove with several of the centre’s owls (photo Jason Bryant) and above a European Eagle Owl at the centre (photo Colin Haygarth)
