Meet Owlet #2 After Hatching At Wildflower Center Great Horned Owl Nest! - April 6, 2024

The second and final Great Horned Owl chick has hatched after 32 days of incubation on April 6, two days after its elder sibling. Athena revealed her youngest owlet during an early morning incubation break. The owlet's downy feathers were still matted and damp from being inside the egg, and it barely had the strength to lift its head. It generally takes a few hours for a hatchling's downy feathers to dry and provide insulation to the soon-to-be fluff ball.
Now that both owlets have hatched, we'll get to spend the next month and a half following this owl family as they care for their growing chicks in their nest at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.
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About "Athena" and the Wildflower Center Great Horned Owls
For more than a decade, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, has been home to a nesting pair of great horned owls. The female, who they have affectionately named Athena, nests right above the entrance to the courtyard in a sotol planter. When conditions are right and her eggs hatch into owlets, she provides a rare opportunity to view a wild great horned owl rearing her young.
Great Horned Owls are fierce predators that hunt a diverse assortment of prey. They are generally nocturnal hunters, but will also hunt in broad daylight. Throughout the nesting period, the owls may arrive at the nest site with meals of small- to medium-sized mammals, reptiles, fish, and birds of all sizes.
Female Great Horned Owls spend most of the time at the nest caring for eggs and owlets while males hunt for food. After fledging, young may remain with their parents for 3-4 months before dispersing from natal territories.
About the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Named the Botanic Garden of Texas by the state legislature, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center welcomes almost 250,000 people to its gardens annually, fulfilling its mission to inspire the conservation of native plants through research, conservation, education, and horticultural programs. The Wildflower Center is part of the University of Texas Field Station network and is the embodiment of Mrs. Johnson’s environmental legacy, a fact she recognized by noting, “Our Center works for more than the lovely blossoms in our open spaces. We are concerned for all of North America’s native plants, from the smallest sprout to the tallest tree.”

[@vickihyatt535]

She tiptoes so gently into and out of the nest! :)

[@MyAnimalAddiction]

I loved seeing Athena today during my visit to the fabulous LBJ Wildflower Center! A special treat to see her eyes peering over the ledge, knowing she was brooding two little ones! 🎉❤

[@SilvanaSouza-wy5rv]

🎉 Hip Hip Hooray!! 🎉 Welcome to the world, little one #2!! 💕🐣🌍💕 Joy!! Joy!! Joy!!🎉 Mama Athena's family is complete. 💕🐣🐣💕 Wishing two baby owlets grow up healthy and thrive under the care of Mama Athena and Daddy GHO. 🙏🌱🙏 Bless their hearts. Thanks. 🤗❤️🦉🐣🐣🦉❤️🙏

[@debbiebrownstein9666]

They're so precious. Tiny fluff balls!

[@reluctantlydancing]

Sweet little babies! I'm so glad they both hatched well.

[@annemarieelizabethrosevolo4366]

Congratulations To Mom Athena, Pop Austin, Owlet #1 April, And Owlet #2, Augie! 🦉🦉🐣🐣❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@lindseyloving4834]

So cute! 🦉❤ The older sibling was using the little one as a pillow! 😂

[@theck672]

Incredible footage❣️❣️❣️ Congratulations 🎉🎊 🎉❣️

[@lorijackson3905]

Hello little one❤

[@zozo-cq5zb]

Yayyy welcome to the world little ones ❤❤❤❤ 🎉🎉 I'm so happy for Athena and dad GHO 🥹🫶🥳🌟🦉🦉🐣🐣

[@law8263]

So adorable!

[@elizabethwarren9976]

Has the male been bringing food? I haven't seen that yet, but would love to. Could you make a highlight video of that at some point? This has been wonderful to watch, so far! Thank you Cornell Lab and Wildflower Center.

[@CornellBirdCams]

Great question! The male has only been seen a few times at the nest over the incubation period, as Athena likely receives most of her meal deliveries when she's off the nest. Here's a clip of the male delivering prey to Athena at the nest from a few days ago: ua-cam.com/video/mKRYdVWq3zw/v-deo.html

[@Summit1962]

So cute ❤

[@jerrijobarkerlove3613]

Yay!

[@user-uj4kk4ul9y]

❤❤❤

[@geminijem]

Yahoo❤❤❤❤

[@bagandbroad]

That yawn!