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Post by aDave on Mar 28, 2020 20:28:44 GMT -5
Well, the wife went to her parent's property today where we've had a barn owl box for a few years. I built and installed the box some years ago, and we've had successful fledgings the previous two years. This is what she found today. Looks like seven five owlets right now...very young and covered with down. Hopefully all make it. If they do, that would be 17 15 over the last three years. ETA: After taking multiple looks, we think we're seeing seven six and not five. One appears to be hunkered down right in front of the two in the corner. I guess time will tell. VIDEO/UPDATES WILL BE ADDED IN THE THREAD AS THEY OCCUR. For those keeping track, here's a size/age chart I found.  
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Post by knave on Mar 28, 2020 20:32:44 GMT -5
Wow, aDave that is something I’ve never seen. Congrats! |
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Post by joshuamcduffie on Mar 28, 2020 20:37:37 GMT -5
Awesome
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 28, 2020 20:43:12 GMT -5
Awesome! I love your owlets. I always enjoy watching the videos you put up of them. Thank your wife for taking the video.
The Coopers built a new nest in the Cypress tree (where they had their nest the first year they were here) so we're anticipating baby Coopers for the 4th year in a row. We have a pretty good view of the nest from our back porch so I may be able to get some decent pictures of the little ones once Mom lays eggs and they hatch. Vince and I caught them doing the deed a couple of days ago when we looked out the studio window.  |
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Post by MsAli on Mar 28, 2020 21:27:26 GMT -5
I was wondering about the owls.
They are so dang cute
Thank you for sharing with us.
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Post by orrum on Mar 29, 2020 6:40:20 GMT -5
I agree that's something to be proud of. Beautiful pictures!
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Mar 29, 2020 6:55:51 GMT -5
Those are just way to cool. Congrats on building a great nesting box
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Post by opalpyrexia on Mar 29, 2020 9:10:26 GMT -5
Thank you for posting this. And thanks also for your contribution to maintain their population.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Mar 29, 2020 10:54:26 GMT -5
Wow, win win win all the way around. Amazing aDave. |
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Mar 29, 2020 12:18:08 GMT -5
Well, the wife went to her parent's property today where we've had a barn owl box for a few years. I built and installed the box some years ago, and we've had successful fledgings the previous two years. This is what she found today. Looks like five owlets right now...very young and covered with down. Hopefully all make it. If they do, that would be 15 over the last three years. Just watched this again for about the third time must be getting addicted watching them. Not trying to be a Debbie downer but what’s going on with the other 2 they seem “well” not hissing like snakes as the other 3 are or moving much if at all. |
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Post by aDave on Mar 29, 2020 13:06:00 GMT -5
Just watched this again for about the third time must be getting addicted watching them. Not trying to be a Debbie downer but what’s going on with the other 2 they seem “well” not hissing like snakes as the other 3 are or moving much if at all. We noticed that about the two in the corner as well. Hopefully, it's just a matter of those two being the youngest in the brood and are not as active as the others yet. On one site that described the hatching of five owlets, the eggs hatched over a period of nine days, so there can definitely be a significant spread between all of the birds in the nest. Further, I've also read that average survival in the nest is 87%, so we've always expected to find at least one bird that hasn't survived. In prior years, all successfully fledged, so we'll just have to wait and see with this brood. Thanks to all for the comments. We'll take a peek in another couple of weeks or so and see what's gong on. I'll update then. |
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Post by rmf on Mar 29, 2020 13:14:30 GMT -5
I could see on their face, "if you are going to take their picture you should at least barf up a dead mouse/rat or something."
So now you have your own Hooters franchise.
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Post by drocknut on Mar 29, 2020 16:21:38 GMT -5
Very cool
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Post by aDave on Mar 30, 2020 20:11:14 GMT -5
Well, the wife went back out today to see if she could get better video. As we were using a free editor to rotate the vid, we were able to count seven owlets. Sorry it's not in HD. I could only export low res video with the free product. She'll leave them alone for awhile.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 30, 2020 20:20:27 GMT -5
aDave I just love listening to that hissing noise they make. That little guy who just hatched even had the head movement going on already! Thank you! 
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Post by MsAli on Mar 30, 2020 20:26:54 GMT -5
The little ones looks so scared
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Mar 30, 2020 20:55:44 GMT -5
Wow so glad to see they are all alive and well even happier to see more hatched too. The last to hatch explains why the other two were not moving. They were hiding. Good to know all is well
Thank you
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 31, 2020 10:32:22 GMT -5
What an eerie sound. They are cute as buttons, but I wouldn't get a finger any where near them.
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Post by fernwood on Mar 31, 2020 12:17:47 GMT -5
I love barn owl faces. They are so distinct.
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Post by aDave on Mar 31, 2020 13:12:01 GMT -5
Size/age chart added to the OP, for those who are interested.
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