Alberta Society for Injured Birds of Prey raises to host owl encounter

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You can be sure it will be a real hoot.

From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, the Alberta Society for Injured Birds of Prey (ASIBP) will be hosting its first-ever owl encounter at 51562 Range Road 222 near South Cooking Lake as a celebration of rehabilitated birds that have sustained injuries from the wild.

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With these owls ready to return to the wild, this fundraiser plans to provide a unique experience for families participating, according to Roseanna Gullekson, the daughter of the organization’s founders, Karl and Eva Grantmyre. 

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“We have a few owls that are ready to be released, and we will be doing a flight-testing session,” she said. “The birds will have jesses (a thin leather tether) on their legs attached to a strong fishing line to allow them to fly under a controlled setting where you know they can fly. If they can’t fly, we won’t release them, but it allows people to take pictures of them in flight, learn about them and learn what we do at the shelter.”

With this being the inaugural owl encounter fundraiser in ASIBP’s history, ticket sales have been rapidly filling up, which includes a $150 offering to experience a hand-on release of a great horned owl.

“I underestimated how this would go and have already increased the availability of tickets because of the popularity. We are still accepting tickets as admission costs are $20 for adults and $5 for children,” the organizer said.

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In addition to observing the owls fly, other activities are also planned. 

“At our shelter, we have various species of birds that we will show people with our tour of the shelter,” Gullekson said. “People can take pictures throughout the tour while learning about all the different birds we care for. Because owls can be hard to reach, this fundraiser allows people to appreciate them up close, especially when interacting with Alberta’s provincial bird, the great horned owl.”

Since 1987, ASIBP has provided rescue services and rehabilitation for injured and orphaned birds of prey across Alberta. With this being the first owl encounter fundraiser in ASIBP’s history, Gullekson hopes people will gain a new appreciation for owls and other wild birds. 

“By people attending, I hope it gives them an added respect for owls,” she said. “I hope people can open their minds, pique their curiosity, and be on the lookout for owls. Coming to this fundraiser will help teach people what to do if they find an injured owl and know where to look for owls in the wild.”

To purchase tickets for the owl encounter, check out the Alberta Society for Injured Birds of Prey Facebook page and follow the event page. 

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