'World Owl Trust - Muncaster Castle'

Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass, CA18 1RQ. Tel 01229 717393.
Email : enquiry@owls.org

Location : Ravenglass
Map - Ordnance Survey - SD 103964

The one year old European Eagle Owl

The Barn Owl.

Muncaster Castle is home to the World Owl Trust, which strives to conserve owls world-wide. The Owl Centre has been here for 25 years now, and is first and foremost a 'Noah's Arc for Owls'. Here UK Conservation-Breeding Programmes are co-ordinated, owl research is carried out, and students of owl behaviour and conservation both in the wild and captivity can come and see how it is done.

The Owl Centre has one of the finest collections of owls in the world, some 48 species/subspecies, ranging from the largest (European Eagle Owl) to the smallest (Pigmy and Scoop Owls). There are the beautiful (Barn and Ural Owls) and the bizarre (Spectacled and Milky Eagle Owls), and there are the majestic (Great Grey Owl). There are the unusual (Brown Fish Owls) and the rare (Burrowing and Ethiopian Eagle Owl). Visitors can view at close range some of the rarest owls on earth, and thanks to video cameras installed in selected nest boxes observe the private lives of these mystical creatures.

George the barn owl has his face on the first new pictorial stamp of the Millennium - the 19p stamp issued by the Post Office on 18th Jan 2000.

There is an opportunity to 'Meet the Birds' daily at 2.30pm (end March to end October). This is an informative talk and display when, weather permitting, the birds fly.

Creeping Kate's Kitchen serves light refreshments and full meals, and the Owl Shop and Gift Shop offer that special memento of your visit.

Open daily 11am - 5pm. Admission charge.

Barn Owl	Red Kite	Brown Wood Owl	Common Buzzard

Tawny Owl

European Eagle Owl

World Owl Trust Centre - left and centre, St Michael's Church - top right. Creeping Kate's Kitchen - lower left, and Estate Offices - lower centre

Aerial photo by Simon Ledingham.

Related Links

• World Owl Trust
• Open Directory - Owls