Owls in North America

Great Argus said:
Far as I'm aware the majority of them hold American - World Bird Sanctuary holds European, and there are likely a few others. There are some older indications of European birds at a couple places, but I am not sure of any other European holders at present though.
Cornell has yet to separate the Barn Owls out, but I anticipate a split as the IUCN status is missing per typical pending fashion. If anyone has information re European Barn Owls being kept here please share, it would be helpful in sorting out the split for the thread.
Click to expand...
Your suspicions are correct - the vast majority are indeed American. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is another European holder aside from WBS, and theirs hatched at Carolina Raptor Center (I’m not sure if they still hold that taxa). ZIMS is unfortunately unhelpful in this regard: in addition to not following the split, most zoos don’t bother to list theirs to subspecies level. In general, though, telling the two apart is possible, though perhaps not easy for people not extremely familiar with them. The European variety is smaller, and often lighter in color - a clear photo is likely enough to reasonably identify them, or at least take a good guess at it. The nominate subspecies is what’s kept in the US. I can’t name any other holders for certain.
 
Decided to do a quick skim of recent references for more Burrowing Owl holders - then did Snowy, Spectacled and screech owls too because why not. I limited what I found largely to AZA or at least traditional zoos, though I also found some raptor and nature centers for these species as well. These should all be on-display animals.

ADD for Burrowing Owl:
Abilene
Caldwell
El Paso
Fort Worth
Maritime Aquarium (CT)
Orange County
Riverbanks
REMOVE
Smithsonian National (previously located in the Bird House, not reported since its 2023 reopening)

ADD for Spectacled Owl:
Gulf Breeze Zoo (FL)
Salisbury
Santa Ana

ADD for Snowy Owl:
Akron
Northwest Trek
Oregon Zoo
VINS (Vermont Institute of Natural Science) (a more obscure facility, but given that Snowy Owls are both well-known and not that common in nature centers I thought I'd mention this one. They have other owls too)
REMOVE
Louisville (appears to have been replaced with Red Panda in 2023)
Brookfield (no recent references, absent from 2022 lists)

ADD for Eastern Screech Owl:
Audubon Aquarium (LA)
Brevard
Busch Gardens Tampa
Dickerson Park
Gladys Porter
Lake Superior (confirmed 2023, ? can be removed)
Lehigh Valley
Lincoln Park
Potawatomi
Sunset Zoo (KS)

ADD for Western Screech Owl:
Oregon Zoo
Wildlife Images (OR) (again, a more obscure facility - mentioned as Western is not a widely held species)

And an incidental holding I came across: Barn Owl at Akron Zoo.
 
Coelacanth18 said:
Decided to do a quick skim of recent references for more Burrowing Owl holders - then did Snowy, Spectacled and screech owls too because why not. I limited what I found largely to AZA or at least traditional zoos, though I also found some raptor and nature centers for these species as well. These should all be on-display animals.

ADD for Burrowing Owl:
Abilene
Caldwell
El Paso
Fort Worth
Maritime Aquarium (CT)
Orange County
Riverbanks
REMOVE
Smithsonian National (previously located in the Bird House, not reported since its 2023 reopening)

ADD for Spectacled Owl:
Gulf Breeze Zoo (FL)
Salisbury
Santa Ana

ADD for Snowy Owl:
Akron
Northwest Trek
Oregon Zoo
VINS (Vermont Institute of Natural Science) (a more obscure facility, but given that Snowy Owls are both well-known and not that common in nature centers I thought I'd mention this one. They have other owls too)
REMOVE
Louisville (appears to have been replaced with Red Panda in 2023)
Brookfield (no recent references, absent from 2022 lists)

ADD for Eastern Screech Owl:
Audubon Aquarium (LA)
Brevard
Busch Gardens Tampa
Dickerson Park
Gladys Porter
Lake Superior (confirmed 2023, ? can be removed)
Lehigh Valley
Lincoln Park
Potawatomi
Sunset Zoo (KS)

ADD for Western Screech Owl:
Oregon Zoo
Wildlife Images (OR) (again, a more obscure facility - mentioned as Western is not a widely held species)

And an incidental holding I came across: Barn Owl at Akron Zoo.
Click to expand...

The barn owl at Akron isn't on exhibit in winter, btw.
 
birdsandbats said:
Cincinnati keeps Milky Eagle-Owl (in the bird show so maybe from somewhere else?).
Click to expand...
Most milky eagle owls in the country are offspring of a pair at Zoo Atlanta who are no longer producing. Their offspring are ambassador/show birds at Cincinatti, Dallas, Fresno, Portland, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari park, Woodland Park, Tracy Avary and Steve Martin's Natural Encounters Inc plus 3 offspring at Zoo Atlanta. The only other birds in the US are at Fort Wayne Childrens Zoo and at Jacksonville Zoo. The pair at Jacksonville are full siblings to the breeding pair at Atlanta. All info courtesy of the 2022 SSP plan, now defunct, plus the studbook. Interestingly at my recent Atlanta visit the pair still have a 5 yo male offspring living with them - keeper info. Apparently the only owl species to accept offspring post breeding season - various sources
 
BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana holds barred owl.

Sweet ole' Shakespeare is Baton Rouge Zoo's resident barred owl. Barred owls are native to Louisiana and are the second largest owl in the region. You might get a chance to meet Shakespeare at our annual Brew at the Zoo! Happening Friday, September 29th! Tickets at brzoobrew.org #BRZoo #BRZooBrew #ExploreBatonRouge | BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo | BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo · Original audio

Buttonwood Park Zoo in Massachusetts holds barred owl (ambassador).

Happy International Owl Awareness... - Buttonwood Park Zoo

Chehaw Park & Zoo in Georgia holds eastern screech owl.

Join us for a Cubs Program Friday... - Chehaw Park & Zoo

CuriOdyssey in California holds great-horned owl and burrowing owl.

CuriOdyssey - Happy National Bird Day! Today is the day...

Flint RiverQuarium in Georgia holds barn owl.

It’s Takeover Tuesday! Something that... - Flint RiverQuarium

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary in California holds great-horned owl.

Happy 6th hatch-day to... - Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary

Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary in California holds great-horned owl.

Are you interested... - Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary

Lehigh Valley Zoo in Pennsylvania no longer holds barn owl.

Lehigh Valley Zoo is deeply saddened... - Lehigh Valley Zoo

Merced (Applegate Park) Zoo in California holds great-horned owl.

We would like to introduce you all... - Merced Applegate Zoo

DarkShadows said:
Owl Holdings from Niabi Zoo (Illinois)

Long-eared Owl
Great Horned Owl
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Barn Owl
Click to expand...

Niabi Zoo no longer holds long-eared owl.

Niabi Zoo - Remembering Clancy, Long eared owl. With...

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores in North Carolina holds great-horned owl (ambassador).

Some animals and their Care Team at N.C. Aquariumat Pine Knoll Shores are getting into the spirit with some pumpkin enrichment items. Here are ambassador animals Abira, a great horned owl, Boone, a skunk, and Charli, a pelican, with some fun fall enrichment! | NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island in North Carolina holds eastern screech owl.

Owl Awareness Day | Today is Owl Awareness Day Meet Napoleon, our Eastern (Sweet) Screech Owl. Napoleon is a one-of-a-kind bird and very special to our staff. Wild owl... | By NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island | Facebook

Sequoia Park Zoo in California holds western screech owl (ambassador).

Throwback Thursday to this adorable... - Sequoia Park Zoo

The Virginia Zoo in Virginia holds Eurasian eagle-owl and eastern screech owl (both ambassadors).

Give a HOOT for Owl Awareness Day! ... - The Virginia Zoo

Topeka Zoo in Kansas holds Eurasian eagle-owl.

Topeka Zoo - HOO goes there? Meet Gengis & Morrisey,...

Wildlife Safari in Oregon holds great-horned owl.

Wildlife Safari - Do you remember the story about our...
 
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Barn Owl - Blank Park Zoo (IA), Frank Buck Zoo (TX), Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (WA), Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (NE), South Carolina Aquarium! (SC), Wildlife Prairie Park! (IL)

Luna on the hunt! | Luna is really living up to the title "birds of prey" with this food enrichment. Barn owls like Luna are natural hunters of small game, such as rodents.... | By Blank Park ZooFacebook
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
South Carolina Aquarium
Wildlife Prairie Park - January Animal Ambassador Jessie the Barn Owl

Western Screech-Owl - Wildlife Learning Center (CA), Zoo Idaho (ID)

Wildlife Learning Center
Zoo Idaho - Pocatello

Eastern Screech-Owl - Audubon Center for Birds of Prey (FL), Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (OH), Brookfield Zoo! (IL), Cohanzick Zoo (NJ), Columbian Park Zoo (IN), Frank Buck Zoo! (TX), Long Island Aquarium (NY), Naples Zoo! (FL), National Aviary (PA), Stone Zoo! (MA), The Maryland Zoo! (MD), Topeka Zoo (KS), Wildlife Prairie Park (IL)

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Brookfield Zoo Chicago
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(Sound on) Nox the Eastern screech owl has plenty to say and it may surprise you. Owls make far more sounds than just the iconic “whooo” we learn as... | By Columbian Park ZooFacebook
Sound Up! | Archimedes the screech owl. She has been a popular Animal Ambassador in our programs over the years, she is now in retirement. At 14 years old she is... | By Frank Buck ZooFacebook
Long Island Aquarium
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
National Aviary
https://www.facebook.com/stonezoo/p...HhnFmRdVrXjRQ4hykhUYyubhMTKj3x6m5NfXdVKJ229sl
Meet Athena, an Eastern Screech Owl at the Maryland Zoo
Topeka Zoo
Wildlife Prairie Park

Northern White-Faced Owl - Nashville Zoo! (TN)

Meet Owlivia the northern white-faced owl | It's #SuperbOWL Sunday and we’re with Zookeeper Cam to highlight today’s true MVP - Owlivia the northern white-faced owl! | By Nashville ZooFacebook

Spectacled Owl - Animal Adventures! (MA), Cape May County Park & Zoo! (NJ),

Animal Adventures
It’s Superb-Owl Day! Lenny the Spectacled Owl has made his annual Super Bowl pick… he’s a Swiftie!! Spectacled owls, like all owls, have amazing eye... | By Cape May County Park/ZooFacebook

* Facilities with the (!) icon keep their birds as an ambassador species/behind the scenes.
 
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Great-Horned Owl - Audubon Center for Birds of Prey (FL), Big Bear Alpine Zoo (CA), Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo (KS), Great Plains Zoo! (SD), Henson Robinson Zoo (IL), Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (NE), Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium (PA), Shedd Aquarium (IL), The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium! (UT), Topeka Zoo (KS), Wildlife West Nature Park (NM), Zoo Idaho (ID), ZooWorld Panama City Beach (FL) || No longer at Western North Carolina Nature Center (NC)

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
Log in to Facebook
Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo
Great Plains Zoo
Henson Robinson Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium
https://livingplanetaquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/Annual-Report-2023.pdf
Topeka Zoo
Wildlife West Nature Park
Zoo Idaho - Pocatello
ZooWorld Panama City Beach

WNC Nature Center

Eurasian Eagle Owl - Ararat Ridge Zoo at Ark Encounter (TN), Houston Zoo (TX), Metro Richmond Zoo (VA), National Aviary (PA), Wild Florida (FL), Washington Park Zoo (IN), Wildlife Learning Center (CA)

Ark Encounter's Ararat Ridge Zoo
Houston Zoo
Metro Richmond Zoo
National Aviary
Wild Florida
Washington Park Zoo
Wildlife Learning Center

Snowy Owl - The Calgary Zoo (AB)

The Calgary Zoo

* Facilities with the (!) icon keep their birds as an ambassador species/behind the scenes.
 
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Burrowing Owl - Audubon Center for Birds of Prey (FL), Blank Park Zoo (IA), Fresno Chaffee Zoo! (CA), Wildlife Safari** (OR)

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
Tucson The Burrowing Owl | See what it's like to be a burrowing owl as Tucson shows us how she likes to dig in the dirt enrichment! Keeper Kaylee | By Blank Park ZooFacebook
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Wildlife Safari

Barred Owl - Audubon Center for Birds of Prey! (FL), Ellen Trout Zoo! (TX), Henson Robinson Zoo (IL), Idaho Falls Zoo (ID), Ross Park Zoo (NY), St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (FL), Tennessee Aquarium! (TN), Zoo New York (NY)

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
Ellen Trout Zoo [official]
Staring contest with Gus the Barred owl. Go! Did you know owls have three eyelids! One for blinking, one for sleeping, and one for keeping their eye... | By Henson Robinson ZooFacebook
Idaho Falls Zoo
Ross Park Zoo
Log in to Facebook
Meet the Barred Owl: It's a HOOT! | Whoo-whoo's having a fantastic Superb Owl Sunday? Never mind the commercials. Forget the halftime show. Our Barred Owl, Bubba, is today's real MVP... | By Tennessee AquariumFacebook
Zoo New York

Northern Pygmy Owl - Wildlife Safari (OR)

Wildlife Safari

* Facilities with the (!) icon keep their birds as an ambassador species/behind the scenes.
** Wildlife Safari mentions in the comment section they keep burrowing owls at the beginning of the village walkthrough as well as in Raptor Ridge.
 
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