Our Ambassadors
Meet Garfunkel (Funky the Owl)
An amazing Eurasian Owl, with a Cool Personality!
Funky The Owl
Meet Garfunkel, our Eurasian Eagle Owl
Garfunkel is a Eurasian Eagle Owl – which is one of the largest owl species in the world. His wingspan is more than six feet, and he weighs between 4 & 5 1/2 pounds depending on the time of year. Funky’s eyes are perfect for night vision – with enormous pupils to bring in all the available light. They look yellow now, but as he gets older they will become more orange.
Although his name is officially Garfunkel, we call him Funky for short. He was given the name Garfunkel because of his striking resemblance (as a baby) to Art Garfunkel’s trademark afro. For the younger generation, Simon and Garfunkel were a singing sensation “back in the day”.
Funky was hatched on May 15, 2019 and has been with us since he was a 3 week old baby. Even at 3 weeks, he ate 6-8 mice each day! In less than 16 weeks he was full grown. Funky has been trained from day one using positive reinforcement and choice-based training; the method of choice by expert avian trainers. That means he is always rewarded for doing something that we ask him to do, and he is given the choice to do things that are asked of him. He is never forced to do anything or punished for doing the wrong thing. This has resulted in an amazing ability to learn and do new tasks on cue. It has also given him a wonderful personality enchanting hundreds of followers on Facebook and Instagram.
Funky enjoys playing games like stopping ground balls and catching Frisbees in mid-air with his talons. He even enjoys playing rope – like a dog – except he sometimes flies off with his end! But one of his most favorite things to do is SHRED! He keeps his hunting skills sharp by pouncing on bags of newspaper and ripping them to shreds. Every day he gets multiple enrichment items.
On and off stage, Funky shares the beauty and majesty of his species with audiences. He tugs on their heart strings to help conserve the air, water, and habitat that his species and others like him need to survive. You too can get an up close and personal experience with Funky. It is a once in a lifetime experience.
Did You Know?
Funky was born on May 15, 2019 in Syracuse, NY at a facility that breeds Eurasians for educational purposes
Owls like Funky are considered top-line predators
It is said that an owl like Funky could easily hunt with the light from a single star
Funky also has excellent hearing
Funky can turn his head 3/4 of the way to the right and 3/4 of the way to the left
Funky flies almost silently. You can feel the wind from his powerful wings when he goes by but not hear them at all!
Funky eats mice, quail, chicken, rat, and a special diet for birds of prey called BOP
Pictures of Garfunkel – Funky the Owl
Ready to Meet Funky?
Land On Sky is ready to bring Garfunkel our enormous Eurasian owl to your classroom, event, or place of business. He is awe inspiring with a wingspan of more than six feet, and the perfect host for a talk about nature, the creatures living in the wild, and how we can make sure that they continue to inspire us for generations to come.
Garfunkel (or Funky the Owl) opens the door – touches the hearts and minds of children, teens, and adults. Everyone who sees him up-close-and-personal remembers the experience the rest of their lives. He has been trained with loving care using the most modern positive reinforcement techniques. The rush of his huge wings and silent flight is not only memorable, but awe inspiring.
We connect each thing he does in the program to owl behaviors in the wild. Seeing his huge eyes and watching him rotate his head brings up the subject of animal adaptations. Learning about his keen hearing, the crushing gripping strength of his talons, and his ability to fly silently speaks volumes as we learn about him and his species. And knowing how important all of the creatures are to our ecosystem tells us that nature is calling out for people to help, not hurt, the planet.
