LUNA

On Tuesday, May 3, the World Bird Sanctuary sadly lost one of its long-time ambassadors, Luna the Barn Owl.

Luna was hatched January 30, 1995 to parents who lived here at the World Bird Sanctuary. From the beginning this bird, which we think was a male, was easy-going and very adaptable.  And when you scan a list of all the programs he was involved in and the places he went, being adaptable was a big asset!

Known for his ability to remain calm, and fly, in almost any situation Luna began his first season of flying at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky.  Here are some others;

1996 North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, North Carolina & Milwaukee County  Zoo, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1997 Milwaukee County Zoo, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1998 North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, North Carolina & Cleveland Metroparks  Zoo, Cleveland, Ohio

1999 Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Fort Wayne, Indiana

2000 Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia

2001 Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia

2002 Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, Branson, Missouri

2003 Milwaukee County Zoo, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2004 Milwaukee County Zoo, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

During the last several years Luna was an important part of the education programs presented by our Office of Wildlife Learning (O.W.L.), and helped educate thousands of youngsters and other audience members about the reasons for the decline of Barn Owl populations in the U.S., and Missouri in particular.  He also helped raise awareness of the importance of the Barn Owl in controlling rodent populations. 

Jeff Meshach, Assistant Director of WBS, had some final words on Luna.  “He was one of the most consistent flyers ever in the zoo show department.  This is really saying something, since this department has flown literally hundreds of different birds in over 80,000 shows since 1985.  When Luna was taking his winter break from flying in zoo shows, you could enter his mew, he would let a trainer place jesses on him, and then he would step to the glove and go wherever you needed him.  He was a true pleasure to work with, and he will be sorely missed.”