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There’s a new burst of life at the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre in Moose Jaw, where several new chicks have recently hatched.
While the exact number of nests and owlet hatchlings isn’t being shared to protect the young birds, summer student Sydney Blume-Head confirmed that “we do have babies,” and that visitors may be able to spot them during a visit.
“They're just at the age where they're starting to peek out of their burrows,” she said. “So when people come to visit, if they're lucky, they might be able to spot them just looking out of their little holes for now.”
The owlets are about half as tall as the adults and tend to crouch low in the burrows, still nervous and adjusting to the world. At two to three weeks old, they’re beginning to walk around under the watchful eyes of their parents, including a pair named Lily and Sumo.
Blume-Head added that the centre is also working with three of the young owls to prepare them for a very specific role: that of Ambassador Owls.
“They're being hand-raised by us, the people, instead of by their parents,” she explained. “So they're going to be tame. They're going to basically think that they're people.”
Once mature, those owls will travel with staff to meet the public, visit schools and help raise awareness about their endangered species.
“It's lots of enrichment for them,” said Blume-Head. “They get to see what's out in the world.”
Visits to the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre are by donation, and there are options for 'adopting' individual birds, or simply donating to the Centre if you'd like to help. There's more info at www.skburrowingowl.ca.
The SBOIC is on the grounds of the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company at 250 Thatcher Dr East.