Powerful owl: Belrose rescue mission ends in heartbreak

Dedicated wildlife rescue volunteers were left heartbroken after a distressed powerful owl they retrieved on the northern beaches sadly died.

A rescue mission on the northern beaches to save the life of one of our most beautiful — and vulnerable — bushland creatures, has ended in heartbreak.

Despite the best efforts of volunteers at Sydney Wildlife Rescue, a mature powerful died early on Wednesday morning after it was discovered in distress at Belrose.

A resident saw the raptor, which only hunt and move around at night, on the ground during the daylight hours of Tuesday morning in Kapunda Reserve.

Sydney Wildlife Rescue volunteers Georgie Campbell and her daughter Grace, went to the park to retrieve the bird.

A powerful owl, with Sydney Wildlife Rescue volunteer Georgie Campbell. The bird was retrieved from Kapunda Reserve at Belrose after residents saw it in distress on the ground on Tuesday morning. Picture: Sydney Wildlife Rescue

Georgie, who is specially trained in retrieving injured or sick birds of prey, told the Manly Daily that she suspected the bird was concussed because one of its pupils was dilated.

“It was probably clipped by a car the night before,” Georgie said.

“If it had been poisoned through eating a rat that had consumed rat poison, there would have been some bleeding from the eyes, ears of cloaca.”

The bird, one of largest of Australia’s owl species, was swaddled in a large Pink towel, to protect its wings during the car journey back to Sydney Wildlife Rescue headquarters at Lindfield.

Sydney Wildlife Rescue volunteer Grace Campbell with the powerful owl, swaddled in a pink towel. Picture: Sydney Wildlife Rescue

Georgie said the bird was able to flaps its wings gently, but it did not move around too much.

“I thought that could be shock as well, They can stress quite easily,” she said.

“I was feeling really feeling positive about this one. I was pretty upset that he died.”

The owl has been taken to Sydney’s Taronga Zoo where an examination to determine the cause of death will be held.

Georgie advised residents that if they see any native animal, especially if it’s nocturnal, out in daylight hours and in need of assistance, to call Sydney Wildlife rescue on 9413 4300 or WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation on 1300 094 737.

She said it was also important to be aware of the knock-on effect on native species, like owls and snakes, of using poison from the hardware shop to get rid of rats.

For more information go to the Sydney Wildlife Rescue website.