‘Harry’ play drops live owls

They were supposed to be a secret, but when word leaked that the new “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” in London was using real owls during performances, fans of the saga went wild on social media.

Alas, the owls have officially flown the coop before the blockbuster West End production officially opened. Producers of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” said that they made a decision this week that live owls would no longer be used in the drama. The two-part play “is currently in its preview stage, with the process designed to allow the creative team time to rehearse changes or explore specific scenes further before the play’s official opening,” they said in a statement that was issued Thursday.

“As part of this process, earlier this week the decision was made not to feature live owls in any aspect of the production moving forward.”

The British division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals expressed satisfaction with the decision.