Now the kestrels have fledged you can now watch our three barn owl chicks live via http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/a/arne/webcam.aspx.
They aren't very active during the day but watch during the evening as the parents bring them voles and mice that they catch on the heath and farmland close to their nest.
Feel free to use the forum to post any observations or questions and we will do are best to answer them!
Barn owl chicks take atleast 55 days to fledge which is a big difference to the kestrel chicks which fledged after 35 days. The oldest chick is about 50 days old and the youngest is about 40 days old so there is still abit of time before they all fledge. Female barn owls don't delay incubation of their eggs unlike the kestrels so there is always a big difference in chick size with the oldest being the most dominant and likely to eat its smaller siblings. It sounds gruesome but it is a survival mechanism and will see the older chicks through periods when food is scarce and often ensures that atleast one chick will always fledge. In the case of this nest they all look healthy and there has been plenty of food so fingers crossed for the smallest one.
Enjoy watching and listen out for the extremely scary noises they make!
Think there have only been two chicks in the box all day - has one flown? Dom your video clip is awesome as your photos are too.
And then there was one? Went along this evening at 8pm, didn't see adult flying until 9.40pm this time and only the once briefly.
second one just fell back in with small rodent
and back up again! bit concerned that the little one missing out.
Well the smaller one is munching away on something at the moment and its elder sibling is standing at a respectful distance. The difference between them is very striking - the larger chick looks very sleek and regal in its full feathers now - the smaller one still a bit scruffy!
Think the younger one had a double feast since after hacking away at one thing for several minutes it then turned round and knocked back what must have been a second. The older chick then moved in to the corner and picked up a third large rodent which it's now consuming.
(Actually it's just a bit of fluff separating the two of them isn't it - both look very mature when they come closer to the camera)
Pleased to hear the youngest being fed well this morning - so hunting still quite late in the morning then. Yes, I noticed the youngest's face very mature when close up but still so downy.
Youngest on its own again at the moment - just had a nice big food parcel dropped in, presume a rat.
It looks a little lonesome this evening. :-(
It now has a large (deceased) mouse for company and somehow manages to keep that noisesome cacophony ongoing whilst tearing it apart and gulping it down. Extraordinary.
Both snuggling up together earlier - just switched on and for the first time an almost empty box - the youngest now perched up on the ledge - wonder if it means the other one has now gone - watch this box!
Hmm, never thought I'd miss that hissing / screeching sound. Hang on - what's that I hear...?