What a hoot! Oregon Zoo hatches four rare snowy owl chicks, a 'happy surprise'

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Four new fluffballs have joined their snowy owl parents at the Oregon Zoo.

The zoo says the four owlets hatched this week in their nest, making resident owl pair Rocky and Banff first-time parents.

Rock and Banff arrived at the zoo earlier this year, and in a release the zoo staff said they were pleasantly surprised by how quickly the owls made a family.

We hoped Rocky and Banff would have owlets someday, but we thought it would be another year or two at least,” said Ronda Naseth, a keeper in the zoo’s North America area, in a press release. “When Rocky laid four eggs earlier this summer we were thrilled.

Per the zoo, wild snowy owls are endangered by habitat loss due to climate change, and populations have dropped by 85% in recent years - which makes the owlets, part of the zoo's captive breeding conservation program, even more of a welcome surprise.

Snowy owls usually make their nests on the ground, and Rocky and Banff are no exception. The owls are nested near the base of a large tree in their habitat, and the zoo said the owlets are currently kept safe and warm under Rocky's feathers. Banff is said to be a great owl dad, delivering food to his mate and their babies.

Staff said the owlets are expected to begin venturing out of the nest within a week or two - and this is when visitors might be able to catch a glimpse of them.