Metro Atlanta family finds living owl in its Christmas tree

Seemingly straight out of the script of a holiday movie, a Georgia family decorating its tree last week discovered a Christmas miracle of sorts.

Katie McBride Newman shared the news of her family’s Christmas catch on Facebook. The post featured a close-up image of her Christmas tree, which appeared to feature gold adornments and an eerily lifelike owl ornament, and a caption “No joke, we just found a LIVE owl roosting in our Christmas tree. What?!?!”

Newman, who lives in Newnan, went on to share the unbelievable news with her Facebook friends that her daughter, India, had been the first to discover steely Owl.

“There is an owl in my house roosting in my Christmas tree,” she shared in a Facebook response to the photo. It scared the bejeezus out of India when it turned its head — she thought it was an ornament!”

Since the uncovering of the owl last week, Newman has shared several updates, including feeding the owl chicken and the slow process of conjuring the owl out of the family tree.

Newman referred to her daily updates as “Owlgate” on her Facebook page, and she and her husband Billy eventually got the Chattahoochee Nature Center involved to help return the owl back to nature. The wildlife tech from CNC offered food and fluids and a crate upon the owl’s exit.

“We owe so much thanks to the Chattahoochee Nature Center Wildlife team — truly good samaritans who saved our Christmas Owl — please support them,” Newman wrote.

On Dec. 14, the owl finally left its adopted nest.

As the Newmans sent the birdie on its way, Katie McBride Newman saw the unusual ordeal as a holiday gift that allowed the Newmans to connect with hundreds of people during a special time of year.

She wrote in her final Owlgate Facebook post:

“Bye bye, birdie.Thank you for the honor you bestowed on our family - for making the magic & mystery of advent come alive in our home, and for inspiring connection among all who followed the adventure.God’s peace to you as you make your new home outside our home. We hope to see you again. . . And to all a good night 🌟”

This article was written by Stephanie Toone, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

© 2019 Cox Media Group