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Spotted owl adult on a branch with green leaves in the background.

History

The NSOBP is founded after an independent team of scientists determines the northern spotted owl would become extinct in Canada without intervention. Six wild owls are brought to Mountain View Conservation Centre, the original home of the NSOBP.

2007

Founding

Two spotted owl adults side-by-side on a branch.

2008

Hatching Milestone

First chick of the NSOBP hatches.

Spotted owl chick hatching out of an egg.
Spotted owl juvenile with green leaves in the background.

2011

Conservation Techniques

The NSOBP begins artificially incubating eggs, double clutching females, and hand-raising chicks to increase production and closely monitor development. The team used existing scientific data for similar species, finding that spotted owls have very specific needs for ideal development.

Staff member wearing a lab coat and a mask in the incubator room.

2012

Hatching Milestone

The first artificially incubated spotted owl in the world hatches at the NSOBP.

Spotted owl adult on a branch.

2013

Internships

The Internship program is created for recent college/university graduates interested in gaining hands-on experience in conservation biology.

Staff member writing on a clear tub in the rodent building.

2014

BC Conservation Foundation

The NSOBP becomes part of the non-profit BC Conservation Foundation. Founded in 1969 to boost revenue for conservation and land acquisition, the BC Conservation Foundation promotes fish and wildlife through education, collaboration, and habitat conservation.

Two spotted owl adults and a juvenile on a branch.
Cracked spotted owl egg in an incubator.

2015

New Partnership

Partnership with Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program begins providing funding for internships and annual nest livestream.

Birds eye view of a spotted owl adult and chick in their nest.

2016

Adopt an Owl

Livestream Launches

Adopt an Owl fundraiser launches where supporters can symbolically adopt and receive updates about the owls.

Spotted owl nest live stream launches.

Spotted owl adult and juvenile perched on the edge of their nest.
Spotted owl adult on a branch in an aviary.

2017

Hatching Milestone

Third-generation chick hatches.

Juvenile spotted owl with green leaves in the background.

2019

New Ambassador

Hatching Milestone

Five chicks successfully hatch, shattering the previous average of one chick per year.
First double clutch chicks hatch.
Small Eyes is glove-trained.

Pair of spotted owl chicks with a black background.
Small Eyes the glove trained owl with a white winter background.

2021

Hatching Milestone

2021; SPOW; PHOTOSHOOT; MULTIPLE CHICKS; FIRST CLUTCH; A-21; B-21; D-21; E-21; F-21; H-21;

​Ten chicks hatch.

2022

Releases

First ever release of NSOBP spotted owls into Spô’zêm First Nation territory.

Old-growth forest with old trees and green ferns.
Two adult spotted owls on a branch with a wooden background.

2016

Adopt an Owl

Livestream Launches

Adopt an Owl fundraiser launches where supporters can symbolically adopt and receive updates about the owls.

Spotted owl nest live stream launches.

Spotted owl adult and juvenile side-by-side on the edge of their nest.
Spotted owl adult on a branch in an aviary.
Two adult spotted owls side-by-side on a branch.

2007

Founding

The NSOBP is founded after an independent team of scientists determines the northern spotted owl would become extinct in Canada without intervention. Six wild owls are brought to Mountain View Conservation Centre, the original home of the NSOBP.

2008

Hatching Milestone

First chick of the NSOBP hatches.

Juvenile spotted owl with green leaves in the background.
Spotted owl chick hatching out of an egg.
Staff member wearing a lab coat and a mask in the incubator building.

2011

Conservation Techniques

The NSOBP begins artificially incubating eggs, double clutching females, and hand-raising chicks to increase production and closely monitor development. The team used existing scientific data for similar species, finding that spotted owls have very specific needs for ideal development.

2012

Hatching Milestone

The first artificially incubated spotted owl in the world hatches at the NSOBP.

Spotted owl adult on a branch.
Staff member writing on a clear tub in the rodent building.

2013

Internships

The Internship program is created for recent college/university graduates interested in gaining hands-on experience in conservation biology.

2014

BC Conservation Foundation

The NSOBP becomes part of the non-profit BC Conservation Foundation. Founded in 1969 to boost revenue for conservation and land acquisition, the BC Conservation Foundation promotes fish and wildlife through education, collaboration, and habitat conservation.

Two spotted owl adults with a juvenile on a branch.
Spotted owl egg starting to hatch in an incubator.
Birds eye view of an adult spotted owl with a chick in their nest.

2015

New Partnership

Partnership with Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program begins providing funding for internships and annual nest livestream.

Spotted owl juvenile with green leaves in the background.

2017

Hatching Milestone

Third-generation chick hatches.

2019

New Ambassador

Hatching Milestone

Five chicks successfully hatch, shattering the previous average of one chick per year.
First double clutch chicks hatch.
Small Eyes is glove-trained.

Adult spotted owl on a staff member's gloved hand in the winter.
Pair of spotted owl chicks with a black background.
2021; SPOW; PHOTOSHOOT; MULTIPLE CHICKS; FIRST CLUTCH; A-21; B-21; D-21; E-21; F-21; H-21;

2021

Hatching Milestone

​Ten chicks hatch.

2022

Releases

First ever release of NSOBP spotted owls into Spô’zêm First Nation territory.

Two adult spotted owls on a branch with a wooden background.
Old-growth forest with large trees and ferns.
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