Recent visitors to the Cochrane Ecological Institute northwest of town may have wondered if they’d somehow magically slipped into Harry Potter’s world.
That’s because those glancing into the middle of the nearby Christmas tree – if they were lucky – may have done a double take when what looked like an owl ornament suddenly moved, chirped, or even flew away.
The subject of all this wishful whimsy is a Saw-whet owl named Nowl, who likely doesn’t realize what all the hubbub is about, as he just wants to recover from his sore head, practice flying and hunting, and rejoin his friends in the wild.
All he wants for Christmas is to go back to being an owl.
Founder and president of the CEI Clio Smeeton – not one normally given to anthropomorphizing – explained how Nowl has won over the hearts of the staff at the animal rescue/rehab centre.
“He came in to us concussed and took about 18 months to recover and hunt successfully,” she said.
“But for the first four months while he was recovering you could take him anywhere perched on your finger and put him on or in a tree.”
“So when Christmas rolled around the temptation to put him on a branch of the Christmas tree and take his picture was overwhelming,” Smeeton said.
“Once he had had his picture taken he went back to the aviary to recover completely and to practice flying and hunting.”
According to the All about Birds website, “Saw-whet owls are nocturnal and hard to see, but they have a shrill, penetrating call that they give many times in succession. During daylight they roost in dense vegetation, typically just above eye level and near the trunk in evergreen trees.”
The CEI’s 100-acre bison, moose, elk, deer enclosure is partially forested and partially grassland habitat, supporting grazing for their herd of bison and released ungulates.
Maintaining the grasslands for grazing is important. The white spruce forest is naturally growing into the grasslands and the tree removal is done as a grassland restoration project supporting the grazers.
Annual CEI Christmas Tree Fundraiser
Nowl and some of his friends will be welcoming visitors to the Annual CEI Christmas Tree Fundraiser Dec. 9 and 10 from 10 am to 4 pm, one of the most popular events on the centre’s busy calendar.
Volunteers and staff have been busy cutting Christmas trees for people to chose from. There’s no fixed charge for the trees – it’s done by donation to the non-profit animal rehab centre, which receives no regular government funding. They receive some sporadic grants but are mainly dependent on public contributions.
They have some suggested minimums, as follows: small tree $40, medium $60 large $80. There are a limited number of trees, available while supplies last.
Every dollar supports injured and orphaned wildlife. There will also be Christmas ornaments, treats and gifts for sale, cash only.
The Institute is about a 20-minute drive from Cochrane, at 51061 Township Road 280.
