Life & Style Home & Garden The little owl ( Athene noctua ) nicknamed the “German owl”, or “ruru nohinohi” in Māori, is a small but charismatic species introduced from Germany to New Zealand in the 1900s to help control the growing populations of small introduced birds that were becoming a problem for the agriculture sector. In New Zealand, it is classified as an introduced and naturalised species, meaning it is established in the wild but not native. Unlike most owls, they are more active during the day, seen perched on fence posts or power lines scanning the ground for insects and small prey. With their bright yellow eyes and distinctive white eyebrows, they have an almost grumpy expression that makes them an interesting sight across parts of the South Island. Recently, the Dunedin Botanic Garden aviary team received one of these wee owls for rehabilitation after it was found injured by a caring member of the public.…