The Minister of Magic, Professor Fiona Rohde, has calmed law students’ fears, suggesting the tawny frogmouth spotted on Level 4 of the Walter Harrison Law Library is ‘simply here to deliver a howler.’

Law students entering the library on Tuesday morning were shocked to see a tawny frogmouth owl resting near study desks, looking anxiously around the room. Many students wondered whether the owl was lost, or whether RSPCA needed to be called. Thankfully, the owl was simply waiting to deliver a ‘howler’ to Ryan Catterwell, who has recently faced disciplinary proceedings (reason unknown). Whilst it has been years since exam results were delivered by owls, they are still regularly used to deliver more aggressive messages to students or staff, in the form of ‘howlers.’

The Centre for the Protection of Magical Creatures have issued a memo to law students across Australia, suggesting that it is best not to interrupt owls as they are working. “The ability of owls to perform their jobs is integral to the success of a law school,” says the memo.

Let’s hope that, in future, students will not become distracted by a humble bird simply trying to do its job.