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Former Busch Gardens Owl Needs a Name

Help name the new resident of McGough Nature Park Help in Largo.

 

The George McGough Nature Park wants the community's help in naming the newest addition to their feathered family.

Several months ago, an injured great horned owl was brought to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The owl suffered a broken wing after apparently being hit by a car, Nature Program Specialist Joel Quattlebaum said.

The owl was unable to fly, so Busch Gardens' veterinarian Dr. Black saved the bird's wing through several operations. The bird now has a pin in its humerus bone.

The owl recovered for several weeks at the Busch Gardens' Animal Care Center.

Clearwater Audubon's Barb Walker let the McGough staff know about the injured owl. She knew the nature center's previous great horned owl was apparently taken or released from his cage by someone in January 2011.

The new owl lives temporarily inside the nature center, while a new enclosure is built. Boy Scout Troop 135 will build the structure. The Audubon Society donated the $1,400 for the construction materials. The owl's new home will be built next to the enclosure of Matilda, the barred owl.

Want to help name the owl?

Submit name suggestions online through June 22. The list of names will be narrowed down to the top five. Those names will be posted on Largo's Recreation, Parks and Arts Facebook page, so the community can select the final name.

Related Topics: Busch Gardens, George McGough Nature Park, and rescued animals, and great horned owl

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