Harris told a friend who looked after the aviaries at Queens Park in Invercargill, who said chicks and injured owls were dropped off every now and then.
“I said I’d love to raise one, so she said I’ll send the next lot round to you; so she did and that’s where it all started.”
Releasing healthy owls back into the wild is Gloria's main objective. Photo / RNZ
The busiest time of the year is in early summer during the hatching season.
This is when people often come across owl nests while cleaning up woodpiles.
“They’re cavity dwellers – well, some put nests in trees, but a lot of them would just find a cavity and that’s where they have their chicks.”
More often than not, the chicks end up on Harris’ doorstep, and once they can master a test flight down her hallway, they go out to an aviary until they’re up to weight.
A close-up of the bird's damaged left eye. Photo / RNZ
“Then I pull down this soft release door, and when the owl’s ready to go, they’ll look at me; they’re a bit suspicious and then they fly away,” she said, showing Country Life around the aviary.
Harris said there were only three species of owls in Aotearoa New Zealand.
A ruru chick. Photo / RNZ
“Officially, there’s two classes of native owls.
“You’ve got the morepork (ruru) and the little owl (ruru nohinohi); we’ve also got barn owls and, apparently, there’s a bit of a flock of them up in Auckland now.”
A ruru (morepork) at Queenstown Kiwi Birdlife Park. Photo / RNZ
Most of the owls she cares for are little owls.
“I get the occasional morepork, they’re absolutely magnificent, but they’re quite feisty and these [little owls] are quieter to work with.”
Harris said it was a labour of love and when they’re well enough to leave, it could be a bit emotional.
“I always give them a little blessing before they fly away.”
