From People:
Owls absent from the skies and trees of Austria for decades could be making a comeback.
Three rare Ural owls recently arrived at the Zurich Zoo in Switzerland. The nocturnal birds once plentiful in Austria have been considered extinct in the European country since the mid-20th century, according to Zenger News.
For the past ten years, the Zurich Zoo has been working to reintroduce the Ural owl to Austria. Their three new Ural owl residents are a way for the facility to step up “its commitment to protecting the species” and helping the birds return to one of their native habitats.
According to the Zurich Zoo’s Facebook page, their three Ural owls consist of one male and two females. In a post, the Swiss zoo shared that they are optimistic that the owls will have offspring, which “will hopefully contribute to conservation” of the species.
Ural owls are known for being silent hunters, per Zenger News. The birds can stealthily sneak up on prey without being heard thanks to their velvety, frayed-edge feathers and slow flight.
According to the IUCN Red List, while there are currently no wild Ural owls in Austria, the birds can be found throughout Russia and in numerous European countries, including Finland, Sweden, and Poland. It is estimated that over 350,000 Ural owls are living in the wild.
Wow, so in about 6 weeks, they grow from tiny smidgens (video of last year’s brood, listen to the peeps) to ready to fly:
(The video just says that the female laid 4 eggs in March. The male fed her while she sat on them. The chicks hatched over Easter, and if they grow up healthy, they’ll be released in Austria.)
It’s crazy how much they grow in about a month! Good luck little ones!