Great horned owl flies to New Mexico skies after successful rehab

TULAROSA, N.M. (KVIA) -- Hootie, the baby great horned owl found in April at a Tularosa lavender farm, is no longer a baby. She has great big, strong wings and used them to fly to freedom in the wild for the first time.

We first brought you Hootie's story when she was rescued. She learned to fly and hunt at the Gila Wildlife Rescue in Silver City.

That months-long process ended successfully, and Hootie is back at Floren Family Farmfs in Tularosa, New Mexico.

A small crowd gathered to watch the breathtaking moment Hootie took to the skies. Others marveled at her wing size and bright yellow eyes.

"It brought tears to my eyes," Lisa Schydlower said. She was one of the many helping hands in the rescue process. She helped drive Hootie to Second Chance Wildlife in El Paso shortly after she was found.

"It's like picturing a little baby growing into this beautiful adult, or teenager I guess, and going off to live their life knowing she's safe and healthy," Schydlower said.

This is just one success story. Thursday, tune in to ABC-7 to see this majestic bird take flight, and meet the people behind thousands of rescue stories similar to Hootie's.

Watch "Soaring to Freedom" Thursday on ABC-7 at 6.