Fears that more than a dozen homeless owls could fall into the wrong hands has prompted wildlife worker Maria Evans to add them to her brood of birds.

European eagle owls, tawny, Bengalese and barn owls are among the 14 birds of prey that Maria has taken on, following the closure of an animal sanctuary in Sussex.

The feathered 14 immediately presented a new challenge to Maria at her Tinker’s Hill rescue centre at Amroth.

“They are going to cost me an extra £1,000 a year between them to feed and another £300 to register,” she said this week.

“None of these birds were suitable for rehoming, and even if that was the case, they could very likely end up in the wrong type of home.”

Maria is now hoping to raise donations for her long-term residents through a sponsorship package.

She said: “A lot of people think it would be lovely to own an owl, but they just don’t realise the cost and responsibility of doing so. But if they sponsored one of these beautiful birds, they would have the satisfaction of knowing they were helping to keep it well cared for, and also enable me to stretch the centre’s limited funds.”

Anyone who sponsors one of the owls will receive a photograph and a Tinkers Hill newsletter. For more information, visit www.tinkershill.org or contact Maria on swansbop@btinternet.com or 01834 814397.