Wolverhampton Bird Keeper’s Owls Displaced After Storm Darragh Topples Tree

A bird keeper in Wolverhampton has expressed profound distress following the collapse of a fir tree onto his aviaries, rendering his owls without shelter. Karl Perry, residing in Oxley, reported that Storm Darragh caused a 50ft (15m) tree to fall across six aviaries situated in his rear garden on Saturday evening. He successfully accessed all 24 of his owls, confirming that none sustained injuries, though they are currently accommodated in compact travel boxes within his van or inside his residence. Mr. Perry, whose activities include conducting displays and school visits, conveyed his hope for public assistance in sectioning and clearing the tree to facilitate the reconstruction of the owls’ habitat. He recounted hearing a knock at his front door around 17:00 GMT on Saturday, observing an individual outside who appeared “a bit frantic” and informed him that a fir tree had toppled behind his property. He stated, “I ran into my son’s bedroom at the back and had a look and there was a 50-foot fir tree right across my aviaries.” He succeeded in maneuvering beneath the fallen tree and prying open the aviary doors to access and retrieve the birds. He added, “One was stuck underneath the tree and was being squashed by the tree, but I managed to get her out as well.” He noted, “She’s a bit stressed out still.” The tree caused damage to six of the 17 aviaries upon its descent, landing “completely on top of them.” He further expressed, “I am absolutely devastated.” “I’ve spent 13 years putting all this together. “I do fetes, carnivals and school visits.. it brings a lot of enjoyment to a lot of people, but for me it’s just a hobby – it’s not a job it’s a hobby.” He also stated, “Every single penny we earn goes back into the birds some way or another.” He indicated that approximately eight to 10 birds are currently housed in their travel boxes within his van, while the remaining birds are inside his residence. He commented, “I’m having to feed them in the house and clean them which is giving me no time to get into the garden to sort the garden out.” He emphasized, “I need them back in the aviaries as soon as possible.” The tree, which he identified as belonging to a neighbor, has subsequently been felled. Efforts to clear his property and mend the aviaries are scheduled to commence on Saturday. “We’re looking for as much help as possible to get this tree cut up in the garden and get it out so we can start building,” he stated. He concluded: “We will get back up and running, it’s just how log it’s going to take.” For updates, follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.