What do you mean it's not Friday yet?!?!

If you're only allowed to have one owl for a whole country, you have to make sure you pick a good one!

The Ruru, aka Morepork, has been New Zealand's only owl for a very long time. I have grown very fond of these little guys, and I'm normally a much bigger fan of the larger owls. They're so cute and expressive.

NZ does have 2 other owls these days. The Little Owl was introduced on purpose about 100 years ago from Germany. The Barn Owl has been known to show up from time to time, but only in the last decade or so has there been enough to start finding breeding pairs.

New Zealand is much too far from Australia for an owl to fly on its own, so it has been suggested they're sneaking onto airplanes (and I'd also assume ships) to make the voyage.

4 comments

First-rate owl
- If you're only allowed to have one owl for a whole country, you have to make sure you pick a good one!
  The Ruru, aka Morepork, has been New Zealand's only owl for a very long time. I have grown very fond of these little guys, and I'm normally a much bigger fan of the larger owls. They're so cute and expressive.
  NZ does have 2 other owls these days. The Little Owl was introduced on purpose about 100 years ago from Germany. The Barn Owl has been known to show up from time to time, but only in the last decade or so has there been enough to start finding breeding pairs.
  New Zealand is much too far from Australia for an owl to fly on its own, so it has been suggested they're sneaking onto airplanes (and I'd also assume ships) to make the voyage.
  
  Ruru: best owl