On the night of August 9-10, Apollo, one of Soarin’ Hawk’s Great Horned Owl ambassadors, died suddenly. As you might imagine, we all were shocked and devastated at such a great loss. Apollo had a personality as big as the sky, and we will love and miss him always.
It is very hard to put into words what this magnificent Great Horned Owl meant to me. He was the face of Soarin’ Hawk for many years, because he was our only Great Horned Owl until Zeus joined us in 2014. They quickly became very close, and you would always find them perched right next to each other, with Apollo seemingly being the protector of Zeus.
Apollo’s tenure with Soarin’ Hawk Raptor Rehab began in 2010 when he was brought in with a previous wing injury that had healed incorrectly. He was left unable to fly and would not have survived in the wild.
I had the gift of working as one of Apollo’s handlers for nearly three years. He had attitude, a huge presence, and personality. It is an indescribable experience developing a bond with a fierce predator; having Apollo or any raptor trust you is a gift like no other. I love all of our birds at SH but there are a few who have always had a big part of my heart, and Apollo was one of them. We had a special bond. My favorite times with him were when I took him outside for a walk. He would see things in the sky and stare at them. Then, I would look too, and eventually see what was in his sight. He didn’t miss anything! I felt as if he was teaching me to be more observant, to look for things that might not be seen at a first glance.
I think about Apollo and his mew-mate, Zeus, were always together, always sitting next to each other on their perch or in their box. Apollo seemed to protect Zeus. Apollo was the vocal one in their mew. He clacked and puffed when I first entered their pen, then I would talk to him and he would settle down. I’d offer my gloved arm, ask him to step up, and he would sit on my arm close to me and look content, and then let out a few hoots. He trusted me, and I trusted him. I respected the fact that he could do serious damage to me if he wanted to, but he never did. He was always a good owl. I will miss him so very much. He always made me smile, no matter what was going on in my life. Apollo would make my dark days bright, and the bright days brighter.
Fly free and soar high Apollo. I will always love you. You are missed by your Soarin’ Hawk family.
—Gigi Stewart
