For the second consecutive year, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, has launched a live owl camera to showcase its resident great horned owl, Athena. The live video stream is made possible through a collaboration with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Viewers can watch as Athena nests and raises her young over the coming weeks.
Athena is currently incubating one egg and is expected to lay another soon. Her nest is located in a raised planter within the center's gardens, providing visitors an opportunity to see the owlets once they hatch. The web camera offers a rare chance to observe the behavior of wild great horned owls up close, including activities such as incubating, feeding, and fledging.
Lee Clippard, executive director of the Wildflower Center, said: "Athena and our wildlife camera have made it possible for people to have a powerful and unforgettable connection with nature. We hope that getting a close-up view of a great horned owl rearing her young will inspire people to protect and conserve our natural environment."
Charles Eldermire from Cornell Lab’s Bird Cams project commented on Athena's consistent nesting habits despite many curious visitors. Dr. Sean Griffin, director of science and conservation at the center, expressed excitement about observing Athena's nesting process again this year: "We learned a lot last year about Athena’s habits and look forward to sharing the experience with the world this year."
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center serves as Texas' State Botanic Garden & Arboretum, welcoming over 275,000 guests annually across its 284 acres.
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