The New Brunswick Museum is preparing to include a rare great grey owl in its extensive bird collection in July. Acting curator of the zoology department, Greg Jongsma, highlighted that this owl will be the first of its kind discovered in New Brunswick to be housed in a Canadian museum in over a century. Jongsma expressed excitement about this new addition, emphasizing its significant value for global scientific research, as it will join the museum’s vast collection of 13,000 birds, the largest in Atlantic Canada.
The great grey owl, known for its impressive height, is a notable species in North America, often residing in northern regions and migrating south when food sources, typically rodents, are scarce. Due to the owl’s rarity in New Brunswick, attributed to the province’s distance from their natural habitat, there have been only nine confirmed sightings documented by the New Brunswick Bird Committee, established in 1992 to manage the official bird list for the province in collaboration with the museum.
The latest owl to join the museum was discovered in Lakeside near Hampton this past April, suffering from hip and eye injuries caused by a car collision. After being identified as a female by the Atlantic Wildlife Institute, the owl underwent rehabilitation efforts due to its otherwise good health. Despite a successful surgery to address the injuries, the owl struggled to recover fully, leading to a decision to euthanize the bird in June to prevent further suffering.
While the owl’s release back into the wild for tracking and research purposes was hoped for, its demise led to a different outcome. However, both Jongsma and AWI director, Pam Novak, acknowledged the importance of the owl’s transfer to the museum for future research on the species. Novak emphasized the potential for studying tissue samples and DNA to advance understanding of the species, a sentiment echoed by Jongsma, who plans to collect samples for genetic analysis upon retrieving the owl in early July.
The addition of the great grey owl specimen is not only significant for local research but also holds value for the broader scientific community. Jongsma stressed that incorporating this owl into the museum’s collection enhances the collective understanding of life on Earth, showcasing the importance of such rare occurrences in advancing scientific knowledge.
