A pair of Burrowing Owls recently took surprise vacations on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. After their epic voyage across the Atlantic, they’re finally on their way back to their native Florida. The owls found refuge in the ship’s Central Park neighborhood. This haven with more than 12,000 plants and stunning biodiverse environments was a hit with them while on board for their 14-day expedition which started in February.
The pair of spotted owls, a breeding mate pair, boarded the cruise ship. They accomplished this right before it departed on its transatlantic journey to Cartagena in southern Spain. Their surprise appearance was first found by crew members when the ship was docked. Burrowing Owls, which are normally Earth-bound birds, favor agricultural environments and are often found in burrows or open, treeless land. Specialists say the duo could have been scared by a chaotic urban environment that surrounds the Port of Miami. This fear was probably the reason they sought refuge on the boat.
Based on the time period the owls spent onboard, they most likely foraged for food onboard to eat and adapted to the ship’s environment. Of the birds, one escaped and immediately flew back toward the green space outside the city’s busy port. Onboard Shapeshifter, this was all recaptured just as the ship was docking in Spain on the 20th of February.
Following their capture, the officials turned the owls over to Spanish authorities. Today, they are all in quarantine at the CITES wildlife rescue center in Murcia, just over 30 miles north of Cartagena. The federal agriculture department will be in charge of their gradual release back into a region they long called home in Florida.
“It must have been very bewildering for them. Some of the newer cruise ships have a lot of green space and like plant life on board to make it more park-like, so I’m curious if that may have been something that was of particular interest or comforting for them,” – Natalie Montero-McAllister.
Mercury Montero-McAllister pointed out how Burrowing Owls are unique in that they’ve adapted to cities. It’s still very important that they are returned back to the healthy habitat. “We’re under the impression that they are accustomed to urban environments, so we’ll bring them to another urban environment so that way it’s something familiar to them,” she stated.
The Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida has adopted the task of transporting the owls’ homeward-bound journey. “Unusual deals like this are just the kind of thing we want to do,” said Tindl Rainey, a program officer with the foundation.
“Our foundation is delighted to help pay for the owls’ ticket home and their care. They’re having quite the adventure and we’re glad to help get them safely back to a burrow in Florida,” – Tindl Rainey.
These Burrowing Owls will be repatriated as soon as mid-January. Now listed as a threatened species in Florida, their return is essential for preserving local biodiversity. The adventure of these stowaway owls serves as a reminder of the resilience of wildlife and the importance of protecting their natural habitats.