Permanent owl residency. The architectural firm DSGW of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, has open aviaries clustered outward ad from a central viewing area, in this rendering on the right side. For the first time, owls will have permanent residency. Now they’re housed elsewhere and transporting back ad forth to the Owl Center’s small quarters on Center Street.
Best peek yet at $17 million walk-through aviary
HOUSTON, Minn. – The International Owl Center began its annual three-day Owl Festival with a display of architectural renderings of its new home across town at Trailhead Park. The $17 million facility will be nine times larger than he city’s current place downtown on Cedar Street. Activities will be various places around town starting at 8 a.m.; Ask locally. Karla Bloem, executive director, said a significant feature will be walk-through aviaries – a concept from Bavarian zoologist Wolfgang Scherzinger, who consulted on the project. Bloem, an owl expert in her own right, said she initially was dubious about owls and people in such close proximity. Owls, she said, are inclined naturally to avoid human confrontation. But, she added, the Scherzinger concept has visitors walking on the side of the owls. As for the safety of visitors, viewing will be through large open windows. Also, as the Center’s collection of owls grows, newer and younger birds will acclimate.
Tour guide in blue. Windows will separate visitors from owls.
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