Latest news with #EasternScreech-Owl
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Owl visits KXAN studio. Could it be an omen, or is it looking for love? Maybe both
AUSTIN (KXAN) — KXAN had a hoot with a certain special visitor Thursday morning. An owl briefly visited the studio early Thursday, landing in front of our KXAN Weather Cam on top of the building before flying away after about 15 minutes. Though owls are not uncommon sightings in Central Texas, it's not every day that we see anything beyond the visual weather conditions over downtown Austin through that camera's view. According to the Travis Audubon, Austin is home to three common owl species — Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl. RELATED | November bird forecast: Do owls live in Austin? Austin has become well-acquainted with one owl in particular — Athena the Owl, a Great Horned Owl who lives and nests over at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. She returned to her nest earlier this month for the 13th year in a row. Athena and her mate have nested at the center for more than a decade, with her nestling into a space above the wildflower center's courtyard entrance. The center partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to set up an owl camera feed that can be viewed on the wildflower center's YouTube page. Athena the Owl nesting at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for 13th year We think our Weather Cam Owl could have been another Great Horned, based on descriptions from the Travis Audubon, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department described the Great Horned Owl as the largest species of owl in the state, and according to the Texas Breeding Bird Atlas from Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Great Horned Owl is currently at the peak of its breeding season, which extends from December to late July. The atlas recorded nests with eggs between March 20 and May 21 and nests with young between January 31 and June 10. Could our visitor have been some kind of omen? Owls are often associated with different myths and fascinations in various cultures. The nocturnal bird of prey is perhaps most well-known for its ties to Greek mythology, in which it is the symbol of Athena — the goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, and handicrafts, per Britannica. Owls are also nocturnal creatures, so maybe it was simply telling us we work too early in the day… Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Hoo' goes there? Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center releasing Eastern Screech Owl
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) – The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center will be releasing an Eastern Screech-Owl near Blackdog Salvage on Friday, March 7. The owl will be released at Vic Thomas Park at 6:15 p.m. after four months in the center, and anyone is welcome to attend to watch the owl fly home. The owl came to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center on November 12, 2024, after it was found lying face down and stunned on Memorial Bridge. The rescuer tried to help the owl sit up, however, the owl did not fly away. Meet 'Cosmos,' Wildlife Center of Virginia reveals ambassador Opossums new name Based on the center's findings, they concluded the owl was a victim of a very common vehicle strike as they normally hunt near roads and draw their victims near the pavement. The risk of vehicle strikes also increases in the winter months as food is normally scarce and again in late winter and early spring as parent owls go to great lengths to feed their hatchlings. Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center receives first-ever rare Eastern Spotted Skunk What drivers don't realize is that tossing food out while driving increases these changes and can have great consequences. An owl will then scan for prey and swoop down only to be struck by a vehicle. Other raptors are victims of being struck, however, owls seem to be the most affected. It is important to keep roadsides free of waste to reduce the tragedies and give better survival rates to the owl species. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
