The demand for pet owls has surged in Northern Ireland

"They have very sharp talons. I have to wear a heavy glove."

Mr Bigg is a wildlife officer for the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, but he is also as concerned for children as for the birds.

"Their natural instinct is to grab on - they will cut, and they don't like sitting on the hand," he said.

"They make a mess, they smell, they can lead to hospital treatment being needed."

Mike Gibb: "Owls don't make good pets"

To help meet the new found enthusiasm for owls, the USPCA is encouraging parents and youngsters to adopt a rescued owl at one of its sanctuaries.

Such is the success of the Harry Potter film that it equalled America's biggest movie, Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, in its first five days.

The Potter film and its Star Wars rival were the only two movies in US history to have grossed $100m (�70.6m) in the US and Canada just after their release.

Despite Harry Potter's record figures, some box office analysts predict it will not be able to match the global might of Titanic.