About O.W.L.
The Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society is a non-profit organization whose volunteers are dedicated to public education and the rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned birds. OWL became a Society in January 1985. (Registration No. S-19879.) OWL is licensed through Fish and Wildlife. Under the direction of founding director Bev Day. OWL is on call seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Public tours are held every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 2:30pm.

The Facility specializes in raptors. Birds of prey injuries at O.W.L. number over two hundred each year and as O.W.L.'s facilities have expanded, have numbered over three hundred the past few years. Primary care for injured birds, ie. injections, tube feeding, and initial treatment of broken bones to stabilize, is administered by volunteers trained through seminars given by veterinarians from the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Veterinary care, ie. surgery involving the pinning of fractures, removal of bullets, etc. is thankfully donated by Huff Animal Hospital and Fraser Heights Animal Hospital. OWL pays only for medications. OWL attempts to find breeding programs for the non-releasable birds of prey so their young can be released to the wild.

Birds of prey are sent to OWL from all over British Columbia, other provinces and the U.S.A. The majority of birds arrive from the Lower Mainland. Although we encourage the public to transport injured or orphaned birds to the facility, OWL has a network of volunteers when pick-up is necessary. Blood samples are taken on incoming eagles, red-tail hawks and barn owls to assist with DNA studies at the University of British Columbia and lead and pesticide studies done Dr. Ken Langlier, DVM and the Canadian Wildlife Service.

OWL continues to expand the programs and the facility through public donations and the support of companies who provide sponsorships, materials and supplies. In 1995, OWL undertook the development of an Interpretation Centre to enhance the educational programs and to increase public awareness of birds of prey, their habitat and environmental impact.

Over twenty birds of prey are permanent residents and assist with our educational programs. With respect to these programs, currently the Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Delta, Langley, Surrey and surrounding school districts routinely visit the facility for field trips each week. Annually, over 12,000 elementary school children come to have a close-up view of owls, hawks, and eagles. A twenty minute video and/or visual aids are part of the one hour tour. Also visiting regularly are Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides. OWL offers the many community and educational programs by donation or honorarium. Elementary field trips are by donation or honorarium and we now offer an offsite education program called "Owls in the Classroom."

Since the 1987 school year, OWL has been involved in a student learn and work program with Senior Secondary Schools. Biology students come to OWL for one month. "OWL" is an extension of a course which offers actual work experience in technical and scientific fields. The Mental Health Association utilizes the facility for some of their clients to learn job skills. Human Resources refers persons to OWL to get their additional hours of work as well as job training. Through the Justice System, juvenile and adult offenders are scheduled to work out their community hours imposed by the courts. Youth Corp participants have helped with the construction of OWL's Care Centre and received oil spill training.

OWL was the proud recipient of the 1990 Minister's Environmental Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in the protection and enhancement of the British Columbia environment. More recently, in June of 1999, OWL received the same award in the "Community and Non-Profit Organization" category. OWL volunteers participate in municipal and regional park displays. Slide and video presentations are shown at the Vancouver Science Centre, malls and for senior groups to promote protection of the environment and to prevent injuries encountered by wildlife. The Society has been host to U.S. rehabilitation centre volunteers, which gives the organization an opportunity to exchange ideas and to respond to requests to provide lectures, instruction and information.

Bev Day has been caring for birds since 1978. She now, upon request, gives lecture and training programs to S.P.C.A. members and the Ministry of Environment and Parks personnel.