Photo description:

"Bardy" a Barred Owl is held by Judy Robertson (Director of Wildlife Haven) in yellow vest. Bardy (it cannot be released to the wild and acts as a "spokesowl" for the re-hab center) made a "cameo" appearance at the release of a Great Grey Owl at Bird's Hill Park Wednesday afternoon. April 23, 2014 - (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press) See release below. Media Advisory Our Manitoba Heroes to release Great Gray Owl back to the wild ¤ 3:00 PM today at Birds Hill Provincial Park, Bur Oak Trail ¤ Winnipeg, Manitoba – April 23, 2014 – Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre, a member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association dedicated to treating and rehabilitating injured and displaced wildlife, is proud to announce the scheduled release of a Great Gray Owl today at 3:00 pm at Birds Hill Provincial Park near Bur Oak Trail. ¤ The injured owl was rescued in Thomson Manitoba with the help of Manitoba Conservation and Calm Air. The female owl has been recovering at Wildlife Haven’s Ile des Chenes facility for the past month. Wildlife Haven has been chosen as one of three charitable partners for the second annual Our Manitoba Heroes Gala. “We want to help celebrate this made in Manitoba event with the release of our most recent Great Gray Owl patient. This release is dedicated to the volunteers, nominees and recipients of Our Manitoba Heroes gala event,” said Judy Robertson, Director for Wildlife Haven. ¤ “Our Manitoba Heroes is extremely honoured to be participating in the release of this magnificent owl. Which is also the official bird emblem of the province,” said Paul Bennett, Chairman of Our Manitoba Heroes. “The Great Gray Owl is a perfect symbol of the strength and wisdom that Our Manitoba Heroes nominees and recipients display everyday.” ¤ -30- ¤ About Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre Formed in 1984 by a group of environmentally concerned citizens, the Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization (MWRO) was Manitoba's first wildlife rehabilitation o