We have an egg!
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Jazz
As we await the arrival of this year's first babies, we're also watching Ambassadors Jazz and Vihar who have been brooding. Both lay eggs just like their wild counterparts, however being unfertilized, their eggs won 't hatch. Since beginning their brood several weeks ago, we've all been guessing which one will lay first.
Many of you participated in our online poll predicting which of our divas would be the first to lay her egg. If you guessed Jazz, you are correct!
Holly, one of our Ambassador Educators, showed incredible courage in capturing this picture of Jazz to confirm she was, indeed, sitting on an egg. As her expression suggests, while brooding Jazz becomes extremely hormonal and aggressive. It takes a brave soul, indeed, to breach the boundaries of her aviary.
Vihar's watch continues as we expect her to also produce an egg any day now. Both ladies will remain on maternity leave for up to four weeks, after which we will gently remove their eggs so they can return to their normal temperaments and resume their Ambassador duties.
Jazz and Vihar are Great Horned Owl siblings who have been with us for over 20 years. Both imprinted on humans as babies and were unable to hunt or survive on their own.
Since becoming permanent residents, they have had important roles in our education programs...except when it comes to mating season. Yes, even in captivity, mating rituals and behaviors apply...
This time of year, male Great Horned Owls come courting, filling the night with their deep hooting calls. Jazz and Vihar are not immune to their male suitors, and have recently begun responding with sultry calls of their own. And even in captivity they get to experience this mating ritual in their own way, by laying eggs.
When their brooding cycles kick in, Jazz and Vihar's behaviors differ. Vihar sits fairly contentedly and only clacks her beak when approached. Jazz, on the other hand, is full-on hormonal. She gets extremely protective of her environment, clacking loud warnings to anyone within hearing distance, showing aggression, and shredding everything into tiny pieces. Interacting with Jazz during this time requires additional protective gear for her care takers—a clear reminder she is first and foremost a wild predator!
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Once their brooding cycle begins, we provide nesting materials and a choice of nesting locations, and both Jazz and Vihar are put on 'maternity leave' until it's over. Great Horned Owls typically begin laying eggs in early February, and sit on them for about four weeks until the babies hatch.
Jazz and Vihar's eggs are unfertilized and won't hatch, so after allowing them to sit on their eggs, we carefully remove them, which enables both our Ambassadors to return to their normal temperaments, behaviors and activities.
