NEW YORK (WBEN) -- The stowaway owl who hitched a ride last week from Upstate New York to midtown Manhattan with the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was going to be released back into the wild as early as this past Saturday, and was then tentatively scheduled for Sunday or Monday, but it now appears "Rockefeller" needs a bit more time, the Upstate wildlife sanctuary caring for him said Sunday.
Along with a new photo (ABOVE) of Rockefeller, Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in Ulster County wrote on Facebook Sunday, "We’ve been working hard to ensure that Rockefeller is well taken care of. We always consult with experts & avian veterinarians before the release of a bird, to ensure they have the best chance of reentering the wild. That's what we've been up to these past few days. We will continue to keep you posted, as we know we all want the best for little Rocky."
On Saturday, Ravensbeard wrote that Rockefeller had been moved to "an outdoor location so that he can acclimate to the weather. Today we are scouting locations and determining the best timing for his release, which will likely be tomorrow or Monday."
The facility also took the opportunity to solicit donations. "We are a small non-profit, and your support helps us to be able to continue our work making sure birds like Rockefeller are properly cared for before their return to the wild."
On Friday, Ravensbeard director Ellen Kalish gave an update, telling the Daily Freeman, "He's in great condition. He had an X-ray yesterday, and there are no fractures ... His muscle tone, everything is good, and so he's got the green light."
She added, "I just want to make sure he’s well-fed before he goes. He was a little on the thin side when he came in. He probably hadn’t eaten in a number of days. So I just want to make sure that he’s at his best weight and health, and then he goes." (And not surprisingly, he's been given the name of "Rockefeller.")
A man who works for the company that transported this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree from Oneonta to Manhattan found the small owl tucked away inside the 75-foot-tall Norway spruce.
The man's wife called Ravensbeard Wildlife Center and brought the Saw-whet owl to Ravensbeard.