Athena the Owl Lays 16th Consecutive Egg at Wildflower Center

Austin's official owl ambassador returns to her nest for another season of live-streamed incubation and owlet feeding.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Athena, the beloved great horned owl at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, has laid her 16th consecutive annual egg. The center celebrates Athena's return each spring, partnering with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to provide a live webcam so viewers around the world can watch Athena incubate her egg and feed her owlets.

Why it matters

Athena has become a local legend in Austin, with the city's mayor naming her the official owl ambassador in 2025. Her annual nesting at the Wildflower Center is a cherished spring tradition that connects the community to the natural world through live, up-close wildlife viewing.

The details

Athena laid her latest egg on Thursday morning, continuing her remarkable streak of returning to the same nesting spot at the Wildflower Center season after season. The center's executive director, Lee Clippard, praised the partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which operates the live webcam that allows people around the world to witness Athena's nesting behaviors.

  • Athena laid her 16th consecutive egg on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • Athena has returned to the Wildflower Center to nest each spring for the past 16 years.

The players

Athena

A great horned owl who has nested at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas for the past 16 consecutive years.

Lee Clippard

The executive director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Benjamin Walters

The bird cams project leader at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which provides the live webcam for viewing Athena's nest.

Kirk Watson

The mayor of Austin, Texas, who named Athena the city's official owl ambassador in 2025.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Athena has become part of the spring experience at the Wildflower Center. What began as a remarkable wildlife moment has grown into a shared tradition.”

— Lee Clippard, Executive Director, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (statesman.com)

“People around the world can experience this front-row seat to nature. It's inspiring, it's educational and it's deeply moving.”

— Lee Clippard, Executive Director, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (statesman.com)

“Athena has been steadfast, having raised successions of owlets in the same nest, same season after season, with one exception where she abandoned her nest and eggs.”

— Benjamin Walters, Bird Cams Project Leader, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (statesman.com)

What’s next

Viewers can continue to watch Athena's nest via the live webcam provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and see her incubate the egg and eventually feed her owlets once they hatch.

The takeaway

Athena's annual return to the Wildflower Center has become a cherished tradition that connects the Austin community and nature enthusiasts around the world to the natural world. Her steadfast loyalty to her nesting spot is a remarkable testament to the resilience of urban wildlife.