Monday, June 13, was an exciting day at Woodland Park Zoo: A snowy owl chick was hatched. This chick marks the first offspring between the mom, estimated to be 22 years old, and the father, 14 years old. The gender of the owlet has not yet been determined, and it appears to be in good health.
The parents and chick live in the Northern Trail exhibit, currently away from visitors so the mom can sit on the nest and provide care to its baby. The owlet is growing very quickly, so visitors should be able to spot it in a week or two.
In zoos, the snowy owl population experienced a dramatic decline due to West Nile virus, which is spread by infected mosquitoes to birds. Owls and hawks are especially susceptible to the virus and few zoos have been successful in breeding snowy owls within recent years.
Every seven to 10 years, the Arctic-dwelling snowy owl appears in Washington state during winter months in large numbers, known as an “irruption,” a period when young owls leave their breeding range in search of food. Well adapted to live in harsh tundra environments, snowy owls face few threats and their populations are stable. This changes, however, as the raptors migrate south and come into contact with human civilization. Many raptor species are facing decline due to human-imposed activities.
To learn more, visit www.zoo.org or call 206-548-2500.
