On March 25th 2004 two cold Great Horned Owl eggs were brought to our Foundation. The parents had begun to set up household on a ledge of a new construction site. Each morning when the construction crew arrived,the parents fled to a tree near the building and waited until evening to return to their eggs. Each day the eggs remained cold until evening when the crew left. Concerned workers contacted us. After receiving the proper permits the eggs were removed and carefully transported to our facility.
Our female Barred Owl had been incubating her own infertile eggs for quite some time. Purdue is a gentle, un-releasable owl that enjoys plenty of attention during her incubation time. After lots of head-scratching and assurance, I smuggled the new eggs under her warm and soft body.
On the 23rd of April we noticed a slight eruption on one egg, and when held to the ear, a tiny voice inside the egg answered with a raspy “cheeep!”, and the busy sounds the owlet makes while chiseling its way around the shell.
On Sunday morning, the 25th of April we had a beautiful downy white baby under Purdue. On Monday afternoon I found Purdue nibbling on an eggshell - and low and behold - she had just helped the second baby out of the egg. Its feathers were still wet, but with the warmth of Mom’s body and as her soft feathers that gently brush against the baby, it will be beautiful, fluffy and downy within hours. What touched me most was the sight of a tiny owl head resting on those formidable feet, that are equipped with needle sharp talons.
Happy Mother’s Day Purdue! However, her days of motherhood will be short. The babies will remain with Purdue for only 10 to 12 days. Then they must be raised by another Great Horned Owl. It is important that they imprint on their own species and become viable members of the Great Horned Owl Family.
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