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!
I do appreciate how lucky I am to be so near to Arne, Mops let alone see a Barn Owl out hunting. How brilliant though that you have also been watching owls with an 'outside the box' view so you know what's going on - great to learn/see everything from both angles.
Have the RSPB to thank in the first place for making any of this possible.
Webcam seems to be down still.
I have been off today so have just found out cam down - will sort it out first thing tomorrow!
Thanks for that Michael, appreciate your day off but still looking out for us! I was wondering actually how long the RSPB will keep the webcam on if the owl/s spending less and less time in the box? Or what if they decide to stick around for months yet? Is it costing much to maintain? Please don't reply at this hour - no hurry, just curious.
Many, many thanks - back on!!!!
All quiet, all empty.
Same again tonight - missing the hissing - became rather soothing before bedtime.
Well can you believe this - one back in the box this morning at 9.55 a.m!!!!
Also saw it back in the box at the VC at Arne this afternoon, so nice to see again. Also had a look at the other link you mentioned mops with the webcam outside the box, great view but sadly nobody around yesterday, will try again.
One sleepyhead in the box.
Yes Pudweena the outside webcam at The Lost Gardens is lovely but I must admit you are lucky to see one or two on the top of the box as they do not hang about for long!!! I am wondering whether when they are younger you might see them out on top awaiting their parents bringing food in so will keep my eye on it for next year!!