AUSTIN, Texas — After it was believed that both of her owlets had died, it turns out one of Athena the owl’s owlets is alive and receiving treatment at a local wildlife sanctuary.
Athena — the resident great horned owl at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Austin’s official owl ambassador — welcomed two owlets earlier this month. Unfortunately, only one survived, according to an Instagram post shared by the Wildflower Center on Saturday, April 18.
“While difficult to witness, this is a natural part of life for Great Horned Owls, and not all owlets survive to fledge. Athena continues to care for the remaining owlet,” the post said.
Athena laid her first egg on March 5 and laid the second egg on March 9. Both were able to hatch before the first owlet died.
Staff from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology monitored the nest after it was believed the second owlet had died and Athena hadn’t returned. In a follow-up post on Monday, the Wildflower Center shared that the surviving owlet showed signs of movement after several hours.
“Working quickly with Austin Wildlife Rescue, the owlet was carefully removed from the nest and brought into rehabilitation,” the post said.
According to the Wildflower Center, as of Monday, the surviving owlet was showing signs of strength and appetite, and staff say they “have reason to be hopeful.”
Athena has nested at the Wildflower Center every year for over a decade, and in that time has built a following of dedicated fans. Cornell Labs Bird Cams runs a 24/7 livestream of her nest — which sits above the center’s courtyard entrance — allowing animal lovers to watch her tend to her nest and owlets each year.