Schools
The Garden Launches Baby Owlet Naming Contest Across County
Hoot and Holla, two barn owls that inhabit a nesting box at the Water Conservation Garden, had four healthy eggs hatch in late March.
Cuyamaca College’s launched its owlet-naming contest for San Diego County elementary schools Tuesday.
Proud parents Hoot and Holla, a pair of nesting barn owls at The Garden, have four healthy baby owlets that need to be named! The contest is aimed at San Diego County elementary schools and features a very unique prize.
The winning school will receive an owl nesting box just like the one at The Garden where Hoot and Holla live with their babies. The nesting box will feature an infrared camera inside the box so that viewers can watch streaming video of any owls that make a home there.
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“We are very excited to offer this educational opportunity to elementary schools,” said Pam Meisner, education specialist at the Water Conservation Garden, who started the owl education program. “Owl boxes equipped with infrared cameras, or ‘spy cams,’ provide a one-of-a-kind educational opportunity by allowing students to view wildlife up close from the comfort of their classrooms. At the same time, a pair of barn owls provides natural pest control by keeping down rodent populations in playgrounds and surrounding school areas.”
The contest is open only to schools, not individuals, with only one submission per school allowed. Each school should submit four names (one for each of the baby owlets) by May 10 to Pam Meisner at smartyplants@thegarden.org. Winners will be notified and posted on The Garden’s website by May 30. A full list of contest rules can be found here or on the attached flier.
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Holla laid her eggs in early February and incubated them for more than a month before the first egg hatched. and will begin their first flight in late May or early June. In the meantime, proud papa Hoot will be out and about hunting rodents to feed his growing family.
Holla and the babies can be seen 24/7 via The Garden’s Owlcam, while Hoot can be seen coming in and out with food intermittently.
The Water Conservation Garden is a nonprofit organization that aims to educate the public about water-saving methods and water conservation through the use of exhibits and programs. The Garden is located at 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. West, just before the entrance to Cuyamaca College. For more information, visit thegarden.org or call 619-660-0614.
