During the 2024 Powerful Owl breeding season, a young owlet named Trill was found injured on a busy road in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Through combined effort and dedication, a team ensured his recovery and safe return to the wild.

Trill’s story began when a passerby found him on a busy road and brought him to a vet clinic. The young owlet, barely a week into fledging, urgently needed care. Sonja Elwood from Sydney Wildlife quickly assembled a team of experts, including local monitors and veterinarians, to help. The challenge? There were no known Powerful Owl breeding pairs in the area where Trill was found, making reuniting him with his parents just as critical as his medical care.

Initial checks revealed no external injuries, but further assessment by Dr. Charlie Carter and Dr. Kiara Simonis at Southern Highlands Veterinary Centre uncovered a healing metacarpal fracture and internal trauma, including anaemia. Trill had likely been grounded for some time. With guidance from raptor expert Peggy McDonald, the team developed a recovery plan to build his strength while efforts to locate his family continued.

Andrew Gregory, a Powerful Owl Project volunteer, led the effort to find Trill’s parents. After two weeks of scouring steep bushland near the discovery site, Andrew finally located Trill’s family, including a sibling and the likely nest tree.

Releasing Trill safely posed another challenge. The area near his discovery was too hazardous, but a nearby private landholder offered access to their property, providing a safe release site with dense canopy cover and proximity to his family’s roosting area.

Fourteen days after his rescue, Trill was released back into the wild—a remarkable feat. On a cool October evening, Sonja and Andrew watched from a distance as Trill’s parents immediately welcomed him back. That night, his mum brought him meals, and he rejoined his family in their roost. Today, Trill and his family continue to thrive, monitored closely by Andrew.

Trill’s rescue highlights the incredible impact of teamwork. From Sonja’s coordination to Andrew’s determined search and the expertise of veterinarians, ecologists, and carers, the collaboration was extraordinary. Together, this collective effort not only saved Trill but also showcased the importance of unity in wildlife conservation.

Story by Dr Holly Parsons BirdLife Australia Photos: Sonja Elwood (Trill in care), Owlet and release both Andrew Gregory