AUSTIN (KXAN) – Athena’s surviving owlet has been through a lot in its short life span, but after a rocky start, the owlet is now flying high in the skies of Austin.
On Wednesday, Sept. 23, the owlet returned to its place of birth, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and was released back into the wild. The crowd gathered on the warm evening, cheered in a quiet tone to allow for the owlet to gather its bearings and stalling for a bit after its cage was opened before flying away into the night.
This caps an emotional roller-coaster for the young great horned owl who almost didn’t make it to this point.
“We always say our best goodbyes for us here at the Wildlife Center are the ones that never look back,” said Jules Maron, Executive Director at Austin Wildlife Rescue. “That was a perfect example of a healthy animal taking off in flight.”
Athena the owl returns to nest at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Athena and the Owlets
The journey began on March 5, 2026 as perennial owl, Athena, returned to the LBJ Wildflower Center to lay her first egg. A second was laid a few days later.
Athena’s first owlet has hatched! What’s next?
Athena’s first owlet hatched on April 8, with the second hatching just two days later…