Media Release - For Immediate Release – Tues Jan 19, 2016 Celebration Planned for Great Horned Owls Threatened By High Density Development See media kit broadcast quality video and photos of Owls: http://boulderowlpreserve.org/mediakit/ One of the biggest environmental confrontations in the history of Boulder - the destruction of critical owl habitat - continues to heat up. Supporters of the proposed Boulder Great Horned Owl Preserve and members of the public wanting to learn more about owls will gather on Weds evening Jan 20 at 5:30 near Twin Lakes Open Space to celebrate Colorado’s most famous owls. An outdoor Owl Slideshow and Interpretive hike to the Owl Nesting Tree will share fascinating information about owl mating season now underway and the eggs that will be laid over the next 5 to 10 days. “These Great Horned Owls are magnificent and powerful. Owl families have nested here for more than three decades,” explains Ken Beitel, Chair of Wilderness Conversation for Boulder Owl Preserve.org, “Our goal is that Colorado families and school children will be able to continue to experience the wonder and beauty of baby owlets that are born here each spring.” Whether the Great Horned Owl family will be able to survive is unclear as developer bulldozers are ready to shred the Owl Hunting Meadow to make way for high density housing. The celebration at the Owl Preserve will encourage the Boulder area community to attend the Jan 26 Boulder County Commission and Planning Commission meeting to ask the county to halt a development proposal that would destroy the proposed Great Horned Owl Preserve. Two alternative locations for the development have been identified that offer better transportation and services for residents. “While Great Horned Owls are fierce warriors yet let us remember that once the eggs are laid over the next week or so, the female owl will warm them for the next 34 days. The hunting meadow allows the male owl to feed the nesting female, and both owls to hunt for the fast growing baby owlets. Naturalists estimate that 90% of the food for the owl babies comes from the 20 acre proposed Owl Preserve. The baby owls begin to fly in April and learn to hunt in the area of the proposed preserve through October each year. “There will be an almost full moon for the first of what we hope will be many outdoor nature programs at the Boulder Great Horned Owl Preserve,” closes Ken Beitel, “If we’re lucky we’ll hear or see our owl friends hooting in the huge cottonwood trees or maybe even swooping over the Owl Hunting Meadow. This is going to be a thrilling event for the people of Boulder and Boulder Country.” - 30 - To attend the First Annual Boulder Owl Preserve Party: Time: Weds Jan 20, 5:30pm to 7:30pm Location: 6655 Twin Lakes Rd, Boulder, CO (click for map) - South East Corner of meadow – park on the south side of Twin Lakes Rd - Dress warm - the event is entirely outside - Please RSVP at www.BoulderOwlPreserve.org to ensure we have hot chocolate and cookies for you The Boulder County Commission and Planning Commission meeting to hear land-use-change requests takes place at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the Boulder County Commission Hearing Room Boulder County Courthouse 1325 Pearl St. Boulder, CO. Media Kit · High-resolution owl and owl baby photos/medium-resolution video are available for print, TV display and web publication: http://boulderowlpreserve.org/mediakit/ Media Contact: Ken J. Beitel - spokesperson, Boulder Great Horned Owl Preserve.org email: info@BoulderOwlPreserve.org m: 720 436-2465 web: www.BoulderOwlPreserve.org Supporters of the Great Horned Owl Preserve to Date: · Boulder Owl Preserve – www.BoulderOwlPreserve.org · Sacred House - http://www.sacredhouse.org/ · Wildlands Defense - http://wildlandsdefense.org · ProTrails.com – www.ProTrails.com · Boulder Colorado Hiking and Outdoor Club (1,600 members, approved by steering committee) Awesome People Doing Awesome Things (1,400 members, approved by steering committee) View release pdf at: http://boulderowlpreserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Owl_Controversy_Press_Release_Jan19_2016.pdf