One of the best-loved owls ever to wing its way into the World Owl Trust at Muncaster near Ravenglass in the Lake District has been honoured with an international award.
One of the best-loved owls ever to wing its way into the World Owl Trust at Muncaster near Ravenglass in the Lake District has been honoured with an international award.Georgie the Barn Owl, was posthumously given the 2009 Lady Gray’l Award on the 7th of March at a ceremony in Minnesota in the United States, for contributing to the spread of knowledge about owls around the world.
Although Georgie sadly passed away in 2003, the award means his memory will live on at the World Owl Hall of Fame in Houston, Minnesota where a special display dedicated to him has been created.
Georgie entertained over one million people at Muncaster between 1990 and 2003 and was the undoubted star of the ‘Meet the Birds’ event which takes place on the Castle lawns.
He was also an ambassador for the World Owl Trust’s efforts to raise money for owl welfare and conservation, appearing in hundreds of lectures and television appearances with Trust founder and 2007 Champion of Owls award winner Tony Warburton.
Georgie also appeared on a 19p commemorative postage stamp in 2000.
Tony Warburton, Honorary President of the World Owl Trust, who won the Champion of Owls award in 2007, says: “Georgie was one in a million. He was a true character with a lovely personality that shone in front of audiences. ”
Set in the gardens of Muncaster Castle in the Western Lake District, the World Owl Trust has more than 150 owls from over 45 different species and sub-species, ranging from the biggest owl in the world – the European eagle owl – to the tiny pygmy and scops owls.
About the award
The Lady Gray’l award is named in memory of the legendary Great Gray Owl Lady Gray’l which lived and worked with her equally legendary owner, Dr. Bob Nero, for 21 years.
The pair gave researchers new insights into the life of Great Grey Owls and raised money for owl research through hundreds of school visits and lectures in the United States.
The World Owl Hall of Fame was established in 2006 as part of the International Festival of Owls in the United States to bring public recognition to owls and the people who work with them.
It is judged by a panel of owl experts from four countries in the fields of research, education, rehabilitation, and conservation.
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