Two feathered passengers travelled through the Williams Lake airport Tuesday afternoon via Pacific Coastal Airlines.
One — a Barred Owl — was being transported to Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (O.W.L.) in Delta after being rescued earlier this month just north of Quesnel.
The second one — a Great Grey Owl — was transported into Williams Lake from O.W.L. for release at Dugan Lake, south east of the city, where it was rescued from in February.
“The first owl was being cared for by Dr. Amy Jordan at the Animal Care Hospital,” said Sue Burton of Williams Lake who volunteers for 2nd Chance Wildlife Centre in Quesnel. “We are sending it out because it hasn’t been eating.”
Burton said the second owl had to spend time in Delta regrowing feathers.
“For some reason it lost some of its flight feathers,” she explained.
Several people waiting at the airport stopped to peek into the cages, including four-year-old Korbyn Bulow who said he had never seen an owl up close.
“Don’t get too close,” Korbyn said as his father leaned in to take a photograph of one of the owls with his cell phone.
A spokesperson for Pacific Coastal said in an average year 10 owls are flown in and out of the Williams Lake airport, confirming they do fly in the cargo area.
“They are pretty great and do it for free, “ Burton said of the airline.