Two Eurasian Eagle-Owl Chicks Hatch at National Aviary
Guests can see the tiny owlets in the Aviary’s state-of-the-art Avian Care Center
Pittsburgh, PA – March 28, 2024 –A second Eurasian Eagle-Owl chick has hatched at the National Aviary! Arriving March 21, just a few days after its sibling, the chick weighed 50.77 grams and is now also residing in the Aviary’s Avian Care Center window in The Charity Randall Foundation Eagle Hall.
Pittsburgh, PA – March 22, 2024 – A Eurasian Eagle-Owl, one of the largest owl species in the world, has hatched at the National Aviary. The chick, which hatched on March 18, is growing quickly and thriving under the care of Aviary experts. Guests can get a look into the chick’s care in the Aviary’s Avian Care Center window in The Charity Randall Foundation Eagle Hall.
The Eurasian Eagle-Owl chick weighed 55 grams when it hatched (roughly the size of a small lime). Eagle-Owl chicks grow rapidly, however, and by eight weeks of age, the chick will be considered fully grown, weighing as much as nine pounds and possessing a wingspan reaching up to six-and-a-half feet. There is no way to visually distinguish between male and female Eurasian Eagle-Owls, so a DNA feather test will be performed to determine the chick’s sex. The owlet’s parents, X (named after X the Owl from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood) and Dumbledore, have hatched 10 chicks at the National Aviary previously.
“Each hatching is unique, and every chick has its own needs, especially during chick hood, which can be a very delicate time. Our goal is always to provide the optimal conditions for every bird to thrive at the National Aviary, and this adorable chick is doing extremely well in our Avian Care Center, which is visible to guests,” says Cathy Schlott, Director of Animal Programs and Experiences for the National Aviary. “Guests will be able to watch this chick grow and develop and learn about the incredible adaptations of Eurasian Eagle-Owls and the importance of protecting raptors and their habitats.”
An Aviary expert delicately assists in feeding
the recently hatched chick
For more information on the National Aviary’s recent hatchings and ongoing conversation efforts, visit aviary.org. Guests are encouraged to drop by and see the new adorable Eurasian Eagle-Owl chick weekdays as it grows! They can add in exploring a Discovery Zone, making a craft, and taking a photo with the Easter Bunny during Eggstravaganza, Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24; and Friday and Saturday, March 29 and 30; only at the National Aviary!
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About the National Aviary
The one and only National Aviary is located on Pittsburgh’s historic Northside since its founding in 1952. The National Aviary is home to more than 500 birds representing more than 150 diverse species from around the world, many of them threatened or endangered in the wild. The National Aviary’s large walk-through habitats create an intimate, up-close interaction between visitors and free-flying birds, including opportunities to hand-feed and to meet many species rarely found in zoos.
For tickets and more information visit aviary.org.