Darien Nature Center Unveils Simulated Forest Habitat For Screech Owls

Information via Darien Nature Center/The Darien Foundation

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Nature Center this week celebrated the completion of a stunning new owl exhibit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Funded by a generous $38,000 grant from The Darien Foundation, the new enclosure will enrich the lives of Blinken and Luna, the center's Eastern Screech Owls, while allowing visitors to observe these magnificent raptors in a naturalistic setting.

The simulated tree habitat will enhance the Darien Nature Center’s educational programming for their young students and provide a more impactful experience for visitors.

"The Darien Nature Center is so grateful to the Darien Foundation for supporting and funding a forest home for our beloved Screech Owls," said Darien Nature Center Executive Director Angela Whitford in a news release.

The owl enclosure blends beautifully with the New England turtle pond exhibit, also funded by The Darien Foundation, which opened in 2019 and is home to Speedy, Bubbles, and Rocky.

"By providing a stimulating environment for the turtles — and now the owls — we are not only enriching their lives but also it’s a learning opportunity for children and visitors to experience what these animals would look like in more natural habitats," added Darien Nature Center Program Director Molly Robertson in a news release.

Designed and installed by Ted Esselstyn of City Bench, the owl enclosure is constructed around a fabricated "snag" tree with nesting cavities and realistic bark. Snags are dead trees still standing in the forest and are favorite homes for many mammals, reptiles, and birds, including owls. The background mural puts visitors right into the center of a Connecticut forest, where Blinken and Luna can be seen camouflaging among the tree branches.

The exhibit not only houses these charming creatures but also serves as a platform for the nature center to engage and educate the community on the importance of Connecticut's hardwood forests.

"These owls are the stars of our animal room, and the exhibit beautifully displays the value of unspoiled forests to Connecticut's precious wildlife. Luna and Blinken are thrilled with their new home, exhibiting natural behaviors such as resting in the cavities, flying to the highest branches, and loving their 'return' to the forest where they lived before they were injured," the nature center said in a news release.

"The Darien Nature Center is a true treasure in our town. As a parent who has children attend the Darien Nature Center, I cannot speak more highly of the teachers and programming," said Paige Kyle in a news release. Kyle is a Darien Foundation Board member and chair of this grant committee.

"Our children have fostered a love and respect for nature, and they absolutely light up when I tell them it is Nature Center class day. The new owl enclosure will continue their learning and give visitors a true sense of Blinken and Luna’s forest habitat."