Otis the Barn Owl Teaches Valuable Lessons

Otis the owl decided to do her bit for biodiversity when she was booked as an attraction at a conference on the topic yesterday.

On what was International Day for Biological Diversity, Longhirst Hall near Morpeth, Northumberland, saw the launch of the revised and enlarged Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for Northumberland.

The BAP identifies 47 key habitats and species characteristic of Northumberland’s natural heritage which are most at risk from loss, fragmentation and deterioration of quality.

Key species include local favourites such as barn owls, red squirrels and otters as well as blanket bogs, whin grassland and heather moorland.

Otis the barn owl had been engaged to come along with owner Sam Talbot to be introduced to pupils from Pegswood First School.

But at the weekend Otis suddenly turned broody at Sam’s home in Chester-le-Street and laid eggs for the first time.

But because she had not mated with a male barn owl, the four eggs were infertile and had to be removed.

“She was a bit grumpy and I had to wait until the last minute to see how she was and if she was feeling okay to come to the event,” said Sam, who works as coast and countryside officer for Castle Morpeth Council.

Sam adopted Otis after she was delivered as an unwanted pet to a wildlife sanctuary. Otis was captive-bred and it is illegal to take owls from the wild.

Sam takes Otis to schools to illustrate environmental lessons. “As a top predator, owls are indicators of the health of the environment,” said Sam.

Caroline Stewart, head of the Northumberland Biodiversity Partnership who chaired the launch event, said: “Northumberland contains some of the nation’s finest landscapes and outstanding habitats. Individuals and organisations from the tourism, health, education, economic and environmental sectors all have a role and a responsibility in ensuring that our natural environment is preserved for the future.”

(c) 2007 The Journal – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.