Scientific name: Tyto glaucops Height: 330mm to 430mm Geographical distribution: endemic to the Dominican Republic and Tortuga, in the Caribbean Habitat: open country with scattered trees and bushes, often near human settlements, also in open forests Diet: small mammals and … Continue reading →
Common name: Boobook or Morepork Owl Scientific name: Ninox novaeseelandiae Height: 250mm to 350mm Geographical distribution: New Zealand and surrounding islands Habitat: forest and farmland, also urban areas and plantations Diet: mainly insectivorous, also small birds and mammals Status: widespread, … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Bubo virginianus Height: 430mm to 530mm Geographical distribution: north and south America Habitat: woodland park, forest and desert Diet: small mammals, birds (including other owls) and reptiles. Will often store surplus food which is unusual Status: widespread, threatened … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Bubo magellanicus Height: 450mm Geographical distribution: south-western America Habitat: rocky landscapes with pasture above the timber line. Semi-open Patagonian and Fuegian forest, rich in lichens and mosses. Rocky semi-desert from sea level to the mountain regions, often near … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Athene cunicularia Height: 200mm to 260mm Geographical distribution: northern, central and southern America Habitat: open grassland Diet: small birds; insects, especially large beetles and crickets; small rodents, for example, kangaroo rats and voles Status: locally threatened Here are the … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Strix rufipes Height: 330mm to 380mm Geographical distribution: southern America Habitat: dense and moist forest on mountain slopes or in the lowlands. Semi-open forest and woodlands Diet: small rodents, birds, reptiles, insects and other anthropods Status: uncertain – … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Strix virgata Height: 350-400mm Geographical distribution: From northernmost Colombia east of the Andes, eastern Ecuador, Venezuela and Trinidad, the Guianas, Amazonian Peru and Amazonian Brazil to northern Brazil, south to Bolivia and northernmost north-west Argentina, south-eastern Brazil, eastern … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Pulsatix perspicillata Height: 460mm Geographical distribution: From southern Mexico through central America, Venezuela, the Guianas, Colombia, Ecuador, eastern Peru, Amazonian Brazil south to Bolivia and northern Argentina. Also formerly on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, where it is … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Surnia ulula Height: 360mm to 450mm Geographical distribution: From eastern Alaska through to Newfoundland and in some areas extends south into Northern America. Habitat: They live mostly in open coniferous forests, or coniferous forests mixed with deciduous species such as … Continue reading →
Common name: Verreaux Eagle Owl/Milky Owl Scientific name: Bubo lacteus Height: 600mm to 650mm Geographical distribution: south of the Sahara desert Habitat: woodland, bushveld Diet: birds including other owls, bats, hedgehogs and a variety of animals Status: Widespread, scarce and … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Ptilopsis leucotis Height: 190mm to 240mm Geographical distribution: south of the Sahara desert Habitat: thorn scrub, savannah woodland Diet: large insects, scorpions, small rodents and occasionally small birds Status: scarce Here is the name of the White-faced Scops owls we have at the … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Bubo capensis mackinderi Height: 500mm to 580mm Geographical distribution: Ethiopia, Kenya and south to Zimbabwe Habitat: mountains, high woodlands Diet: a large variety of small- and medium-sized creatures and birds including owls, reptiles, scorpions, crabs, grasshoppers, beetles and … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Bubo africanus Height: 450mm Geographical distribution: Africa south of the Sahara, Arabia Habitat: savanna and light woodland Diet: insects, small mammals and birds. Also reptiles, scorpions, crabs, snails and frogs Status: frequent to scarce Here are the names of the African … Continue reading →
Scientific Name: Strix woodfordii Height: 300mm to 360mm Habitat: Forest and woodland also plantations Diet: Mainly insects but also reptiles, small mammals and birds Status: Not globally threatened. Very common in most of its range Geographical Distribution: S Angola, S … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Bubo cinerascens Height: 430mm Geographical distribution: northern part of sub-Saharan Africa from Mauretania and Liberia east to Sudan and Somalia. Habitat: dry rocky deserts and open savannah, as well as lowland forests in Somalia. Diet: small mammals, birds, … Continue reading →
Rupert, a Siberian/Turkmenian eagle owl, is the son of Boris, a Western Siberian Eagle Owl. He was hatched in 1992 and he is a big favourite with the visitors as he can be seen regularly on the mews with the … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Bubo bubo yenisseensis Height: 580mm to 710mm Geographical distribution: central Siberia between Ob river, Lake Baikal, Altai mountains, and north Mongolia Habitat: mountainous forest, semi-desert and rocky slopes Diet: large birds, a variety of small- and medium-sized mammals … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Bubo bubo sibiricus Height: 580mm to 710mm Geographical distribution: western Siberia and Bashkiria, to middle Ob river and West Altai mountains, north to the limits of the Taiga Habitat: mountainous forest, semi-desert and rocky slopes Diet: large birds, … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Bubo bubo interpositus Height: 580mm to 710mm Geographical distribution: Bessarabia, Crimea, Caucasus, Asia Minor, Palestine, Syria and Iran Habitat: mountainous forest, semi-desert and rocky slopes Diet: large birds, a variety of small- and medium-sized mammals including rabbits and … Continue reading →
Common name: Bengal or Rock Owl Scientific name: Bubo bengalensis Height: 500mm to 560mm Geographical distribution: India, Pakistan and Nepal Habitat: rocky crevices or ledges of clay cliffs, ruined or abandoned buildings Diet: field rats and mice, birds, reptiles and … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Strix leptogrammica Height: 460mm to 530mm Geographical distribution: India, south China, south-east Asia Habitat: highland and lowland forest Diet: rodents, large birds, insects and fish Status: uncertain, locally common Here are the names of the Malaysian brown wood owls we … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Otus bakkamoena Height: 230mm–250mm Geographical distribution: Southern regions of Asia from eastern Arabia through the Indian Subcontinent, except the far north, east across much of Southeast Asia to Indonesia. Habitat: Common resident bird in forests and other well-wooded areas, and nests in a hole in a tree. … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Nyctea scandiaca Height: 530mm to 660mm Geographical distribution: Arctic regions Habitat: tundra, bare rocky ground Diet: lemmings, rabbits, hares, rats, moles, voles, pikas, ground squirrel, pheasants, partridge, grebes and gulls Here are the names of the Snowy owls we have at … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Bubo bubo Height: 580mm to 710mm Geographical distribution: Europe, North Africa, Asia and Middle East Habitat: mountainous forest, semi-desert and rocky slopes Diet: large birds and a variety of small- and medium-sized mammals including rabbits and hares, roe … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Strix uralensis Height: 580mm to 610mm Geographical distribution: central and northern Europe, central Asia, Korea and Japan Habitat: old woodland and forest Diet: voles and other mammals up to the size of small hares, plus birds and frogs … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Strix nebulosa lapponica Height: 610mm to 840mm Geographical distribution: northern Europe, northern Asia, the north of America and its western mountains Habitat: mature forest Diet: mainly small mammals, for example voles, squirrels, small hares and also large birds … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Aegolius funereus Height: 220mm to 250mm Habitat: Mainly old growth coniferous forest and mountainous regions Diet: Mainly voles and other mammals but also birds as well as insects and other invertebrates Status: Not globally threatened, but generally uncommon or rare Geographical distribution: Pyrenees, Caucasus, … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Tyto alba guttata Height: 330mm to 430mm Geographical distribution: north, central and south America, Europe, Africa, southern and south-eastern Asia, Australasia Habitat: grasslands, cultivations, scrub and forest edge Diet: mostly rodents; occasionally small birds, bats and other prey … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Asio otus Height: 310mm to 400mm Geographical distribution:Very large range extending across northern Eurasia as well as Mediterranean islands, north-western Africa, the Middle East and northern Pakistan, with isolated populations in the Azores and east-central China. Habitat: Forest close to open … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Asio flammeus Height: 340mm to 430mm Geographical distribution: UK, North & Central Europe, North Asia, North & South America Habitat: Tundra, marsh, moor, grassland Diet: Small mammals, especially voles, also some birds; will hunt by day or night … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Athene noctua Height: 190mm to 230mm Geographical distribution: Europe, central and eastern Asia, north Africa and Middle East Habitat: woodland, cultivations, parks and semi-deserts Diet: insects and other anthropods, small reptiles, frogs, birds and earthworms Status: declining in localised areas Here are the names of the Little … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Strix aluco Height: 360mm to 460mm Geographical distribution: Europe, Asia, North Africa, Middle East Habitat: Mixed coniferous or deciduous woodland, woodland edge Diet: Wide variety of prey, often opportunists Status: Common species Here are the names of the Tawny owls we … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Tyto alba Height: 330mm to 430mm Geographical distribution: north, central and south America, Europe, Africa, southern and south-eastern Asia, Australasia Habitat: grasslands, cultivations, scrub and forest edge Diet: mostly rodents; occasionally small birds, bats and other prey Status: widespread, locally threatened Here are the names of … Continue reading →
The Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) Podargus means ‘gouty’ is derived from the Greek word podagra meaning gout. This refers to the small, presumably weak feet of the frogmouth. Some say they walk ‘like a gouty old man’. The species name … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Dacelo novaeguineae Height: 450mm Geographical distribution: Native to eastern Australia, but also been introduced to parts of New Zealand, Tasmania and Western Australia Habitat: Occupies woodland territories (including forests) Diet: Common prey include mice and similar-sized small mammals, large insects,lizards, small birds and nestlings, and most famously, snakes. Small prey are preferred, but … Continue reading →
Scientific name: Procyon lotor The raccoon is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of 40 to 70 cm (16 to 28 in) and a body weight of 3.5 to 9 kg (8 to 20 lb). Its grayish coat mostly consists of dense underfur which insulates … Continue reading →
The Alpaca is a domesticated member of the camelid family—the others being llamas, guanacos, vicunas and of course the camel. Alpacas are native to South America—from the high altitudes of the Andes of Chile, Peru and Bolivia—where they have been … Continue reading →
The meerkat or Scientific name suricate (Suricata suricatta) is a small carnivoran belonging to the mongoose family (Herpestidae). It is the only member of the genus Suricata. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a … Continue reading →
For being such a small horse the Shetland Pony is unusually strong, this is because the breed made its development in the rather harsh conditions of the Shetland Islands, from which they received their name. The natives of the islands … Continue reading →
Pygmy goats originated in Africa and made their way as pets in American homes during the 1950’s. These goats are very popular today as pets for children and are a common member of petting zoos all over the world. They … Continue reading →
Emus are native to Australia and may live up to 30 years. They are between 4 and 6’6 tall and weigh between 80 and 120lbs, are very inquisitive but not aggressive by nature. They mature at about 2 years and … Continue reading →
We are delighted to show you all our new all weather owl encounters barn which was finished in time for the half term in February. It has low level LED lighting for the indoor flying displays and a close encounters area … Continue reading →
Great day for our 2017 opening with lots of visitors and a smashing team! … Continue reading →
We were both shocked and delighted to win the Gold Award at South West Tourism Excellence awards which spans 6 counties and had 6 finalist up for awards in our category best small attraction in the south West. Well done … Continue reading →
Cornwall Tourism Awards We were absolutely thrilled to win the bronze in ACCESS & INCLUSIVITY AWARD and guess what?? We won the Gold Award again for the best small attraction for the second year running, well done team! … Continue reading →
Last week a colleague from Cambridge brought a new husband for “Pootle” the Ural owl and we hope she will approve of him. He is also brought a husband for “Dottie” the Vermiculated owl and a male White Faced Scops … Continue reading →
We were very sad to lose our female Meerkat three weeks ago giving birth to two babies. However the youngsters have been hand reared by staff since birth and are doing really well and becoming quite a handful now. Initially … Continue reading →
These are our recent ugly ducklings which will soon turn into beautiful Barn owls! … Continue reading →
Please meet our Western Siberian Eagle owl triplets hatched during the middle of June. These chunky little monkeys are growing at a very fast pace and eating us out of house and home. … Continue reading →
We have 8 young Tawny owls in care which were all admitted due to difficult circumstances or injuries. They are currently in our convalescing aviary building up wing muscle strength ready for release to their former locations during the next … Continue reading →
We are excited to announce we have a baby Meerkat in our gang. It is very young and the eyes are not open yet so we are thinking it is probably a few days old. This is our first breeding and … Continue reading →
The three Alpacas Eddie, Giovanni and Giuseppe were so relieved to get a shearing this week with the very hot and humid weather. Eddie is posing for his before and after pictures. … Continue reading →
This is our latest baby Boobook owl now named Clio which will be staying with us to join the hand tame owls at the close encounters. … Continue reading →
The breeding season has been very slow to start this year which may well be due to the extended cold weather. At least we have our first youngsters of the season to show off they are a pair of Indian … Continue reading →
Kevin & Dibs have done a fantastic job in building our new flight aviary. This is a private location aviary that will aid the wild owls that we are rehabilitating to gain fitness for release. It is a lovely long … Continue reading →
You may remember earlier in March we discovered a hibernating Pipistrelle bat under some damaged felt on our shop roof. Well our friends from the Cornwall Bat Aid returned today with our little Pipistrelle. Following medication & lots of TLC … Continue reading →
We hope you all like the improvements we have recently made to the Meerkat enclosure. We have just replaced the front Perspex with new clear polycarbonate sheets and have put a door in the rear of the enclosure for easier … Continue reading →
We are at the time of year when all the baby Tawny owls start to hatch in the trees. Long before these little creatures learn to fly they go exploring and walkabout on the ground and this is normal development and … Continue reading →
This poor little tawny owlet was admitted a couple of days ago after having been cut free from a barbed wire fence! The poor little blight had to visit our expert vet Chris Gardner at St Clement Vets Truro to … Continue reading →
On Tuesday 17th May from 3pm until 7pm Dr Luke Thompson will be hosting a poetry workshop here at the sanctuary. … Continue reading →
In November this Short Eared owl was admitted into our hospital from the Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital with a wing injury. After several months of rehabilitation and convalescing it was BTO rung and has been released back to its former location. A … Continue reading →
Happy New Year!! 2015 was a pinnacle year for the sanctuary with many great memories…. our 25th Anniversary & winning Gold at the Cornwall Tourism Awards to name a few…… none of this would be possible without the support of … Continue reading →
On June 27th we held our 25th celebration which was well attended by sponsors, invited guests and visitors and the day was hosted by Ian McNeice. The Anniversary day was a huge success, and was attended by over 500 people … Continue reading →
Despite trying to encourage people not to pick up baby Tawny owls when they find them on the ground at this time of year we always have quite a number brought in to us, and currently have seven in our … Continue reading →
We were delighted to breed three Western Siberian Eagle owls (Bubo bubo sibiricus) and two Eastern Siberian Eagle owls (Bubo bubo yenisseensis) this year. One of these lovely youngsters now named “Mushka” will be staying at the centre and being trained … Continue reading →
This tawny owl nicknamed “Stinky” was admitted into us a couple of months ago after swimming in a slurry pit on a farm!! He needed to have had several baths & started eating well again, and was BTO rung and … Continue reading →
Megan has just moved into her lovely new aviary, and it looks as if she fully approves of her new surroundings. We would like to say a big thanks to “Designersunnies” for helping to sponsor the materials for the aviary … Continue reading →
We were just thinking a few months how quiet our hospital unit had been & then this poor little soul turned up for admission. Unfortunately this barn owl had flown into an oil container on a farm & was covered … Continue reading →
Lots of visitors ask us about owl ears & where they are sited because they’re not visible externally…………. Well whilst health checking our Tengmalm’s owl yesterday we managed to capture this super photo which clearly shows the tubular eye shape … Continue reading →
This little tawny owl was found at a nearby school that we regularly visit by a young lad just a few weeks before Christmas. He was found late in the afternoon with his leg tangled in the long grass in … Continue reading →
