World’s largest owl collection goes up for sale as scottish centre owners eye retirement

Bathgate, Scotland: More than 150 hand-reared raptors, described as one of the largest collections of owls in the world, could soon have new owners as the founders of the Scottish Owl Centre prepare for retirement.

The centre, located in Bathgate 23 miles outside Glasgow, houses twelve species ranging in age from 1 to 19 years old. The youngest is Opia, an ashy-faced owl. The oldest and largest is Zeus, a Eurasian eagle owl and one of the biggest owl species, with a wingspan of well over six feet. Zeus, now 19, arrived at the centre as a rescued bird at age five.

Head keeper Trystan Williams trains all the owls for daily flying displays. The birds are introduced to human contact as chicks and rewarded with small pieces of chicken by hand. “These are the birds that people meet here at the centre and that they’ll see in our flying displays,” Williams said.

Zeus has been flying in the shows longer than any other bird at the centre. “It’s hard to have a favorite when they’re all so fantastic, but the big owls are spectacular, so Zeus is a favorite of lots of the staff and visitors,” Williams added.The centre has released a series of portraits showcasing the owls ahead of the founders’ planned retirement, opening the door for a potential new owner to take over the collection and its daily operations.