National Aviary welcomes additions to its owl flock
A barred owl named Ann made her public debut at the National Aviary on Wednesday, and it was deemed a success by the trainer who held the bird on her gloved hand.
Although other owls “star” in free-flight bird shows at the aviary, “success” for Ann involved merely sitting calmly while photographers snapped photos of her.
Ann was rewarded with “meeces pieces” — tiny pieces of dead mice and chicks — from Cathy Schlott, curator of behavioral management and education.
The North Side bird zoo introduced Ann and other owls that are new additions to the facility, including a Verreaux’s eagle owl, a white-faced scops owl and a small eastern screech owl named Cypress.
Barred owls like Ann and eastern screech owls like Cypress are native to Pennsylvania. Neither species is threatened or endangered yet but their habitat is shrinking, said Bob Mulvihill, an ornithologist at the aviary. Both owls came to the aviary from wildlife rehabilitation facilities.
As a young chick, Cypress was found by a person “who fed and raised him,” though that is illegal, Ms. Schlott said. By the time he was turned over to a rehabilitation center, he had no hunting skills. “He just waits for people to feed him,” she said.
Because Cypress could not survive in the wild, he will be used in educational programs at the aviary, as will Ann. The barred owl apparently was injured and was treated at a wildlife rehabilitation center, but she has only a limited ability to fly, Ms. Schlott said.
The Harry Potter books and movies made owls more popular with the public, “but they are not meant to be pets,” she said.
Owls are featured all month, with special events including Owl-o-Ween from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. Visitors can wear costumes, receive candy and do bird-themed crafts.
Every day at 12:30 there’s an Indoor Owl Prowl, with aviary staff showing visitors exactly where the owls live. The snowy owl will return to a public exhibit when the weather is colder.
Fan favorite Dumbledore, a big orange-eyed Eurasian eagle owl, will be back on exhibit in November with his breeding partner, “X.” They have produced and hatched seven chicks.
Actual outdoor Owl Prowls will be led by Mr. Mulvihill at the Latodami Nature Center in North Park on Oct. 18; at Settlers Cabin Park on Oct. 25; and at Frick Environmental Center in Frick Park on Nov. 1. Pre-registration for the $10 prowl is required by contacting Audrey Beichner at audrey.beichner@aviary.org or 412-258-9463.