Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Pot Plant Owl wins International Owl Award

07 Dec 2012:
I have just received wonderful news!

We have just heard that Pot Plant Owl has won the Lady Gray'l Award. This is an award given out at the International Owl Festival in March every year in Houston, Minnesota. This is what the award is for:

The Lady Gray'l Award is named after a Great Gray Owl who was hatched in 1984. Thanks to caring biologists with an interesting plan, that same owl who would have starved as the runt of the brood. Lady Gray'l spent a 21-year career touching the lives of untold thousands of people and giving researchers new insights into the life of the Great Gray Owl. Lady Gray'l spent nearly her entire lifetime living and working with Dr. Bob Nero, raising money for owl research through their hundreds of school visits and day-long stints in malls. Thanks to Gray'l, Great Gray Owls were plucked from relative obscurity to become the provincial bird of Manitoba. Lady Gray'l flew from this world on October 13, 2005, and this award was established to honor her accomplishments by recognizing other owls following in her footsteps.

Pot Plant Owl and her family hold a very special place in our hearts. She has done so much in our lives, and it's amazing to know that 'her' reach is now worldwide - enough for her to win a special International Owl of the Year award.

The Pot Plant Owl story has reached thousands of people around the globe, instilling in them an awareness, not only about owls, but about garden birds and Nature in general too. Thanks to our sweet Pot Plant Owl, the PPO Facebook page and Africam's webcam have brought joy to thousands of people daily. The PPO webcam was followed in schools as part of a set curriculum. The wetland where PPO hunts has been saved (to date) from development with a 28 000 strong petition, and PPO campaigns to save ALL wetlands in South Africa. PPO is now publicising the plight of the Pels Fishing Owl, whose breeding sites in the southern Kruger Park are threatened by a hotel development.

I speak on behalf of Pot Plant Owl when I say a huge big THANK YOU for this award. I look forward to receiving the award in Houston, Minnesota on PPO's behalf. (Regret, she can't personally attend due to family commitments, but has asked me to accept the award for her).

To USA PPO fans - hope to see you at the 'International Festival of Owls' in March next year!

9 comments:

  1. Dear PPO, you are one special owl...and I love you! You so deserve this award!

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  2. Dear PPO and family - congratulations on winning this very important award! Your story has traveled the world and this recognition reflects the impact it has made. Many thanks to your human family for sharing PPO, Papa owl and all the babies with us!

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  3. I certainly think that PPO aka "Stinker" is deserving of this award. She is a fine lady and we all thank her and her human family for sharing their lives with us. Poppa is probably flying around telling all of the other owls how proud he is. Of course, Merlin and Timka are clapping and hooing "Go Mom"!

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  4. Congratulations PPO! Thank you Tracy and Allan for allowing us to share into PPO, Pappa and their offspring's lives.

    I look forward to seeing you in Houston, MN in March 2012.

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  5. This is wonderful news and such a great accomplishment! The beauty of this is that she is still part of nature and doesn't "know" how many she has touched.

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  6. Is there a petition you can point us to about the Pels Fishing Eagle/ anti-Hotel issue in Krueger Park that we can sign? Sooo jazzed about the Lady Gray'l Award recognizing the "whole cloth" effort that animal conservation involves - not just the animal but its habitat and the attitudes of the people who need to learn about sharing that habitat. Way to go PPO!!

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  7. Congratulations to PPO and friends! The education PPO and friends have provided for everyone, (not to mention fun and friendship) deserve recognition. Bravo!

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  8. Wow, Tracy!!! This is just so wonderful and I am so proud of PPO for she has shown us so much and we have really enjoyed watching her raise her family on your balcony. I am so glad that I was able to watch and make friends with you Tracy!!!! Way to go!!! And congratulations!!!! Caboval

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  9. Hi there Tracy and Alan,
    Heartiest congratulations on your well-deserved award. I know its not been an easy road, but you deserve all the accolades in the world. Well done!
    Sending lotsaluv
    MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

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