Owlcatraz (Shannon) Traditional Cache

[Please note the park and shop closed in August 2020 and the property has new owners. This is now a tribute cache]. Owlcatraz Native Bird and Wildlife Park on State Highway 57, at Shannon, was a family run wildlife shelter and breeding site for native birds and farm animals. It used to be open to the public to visit but in 2020 the property has been sold and the park closed. The GSEL family is surrounded by owls so it seemed appropriate we would hide a cache near Owlcatraz. 

Mrs GSEL is a collector of owl paraphernalia. A quick search of our kitchen and dining room revealed at least 45 objects with an owl theme. There are plenty more of them scattered around the house, stuffed away in boxes and out on the property. The Owlcatraz property was set up in 2000 and bred moreporks and North Island weka for release back into the wild under a DOC permit. It also had a range of farm animals, many of which are child friendly. The site had a glow-worm cave and children's train ride. The park was popular over the school holidays as place for children to visit to see wildlife and explore the farm.