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!
Thanks Mark, would have withdrawal symptoms if can't check up on them before bedtime.
Older one seems to be pecking bits up off the floor - presumably spare parts!
Empty box, sound of pouring rain and pitter patter of tiny feet from above. Now you see 'em, now you don't, at the moment!
I can hear the sound of one owl hissing (no comments please!)
Looks like the older one of the two back in with yet another huge rat.
One eating in the box, one hissing outside, plenty of food, don't think they want to leave at all.
They do seem much too comfortable to leave. No sign of any barn owls around the farm earlier this evening oddly.
Looks like it is down to one this morning!!!!
Back to 2 again. Looking very snoozy - a late night perhaps.
Both nice & comfy and fast asleep. Amazing to look back now at the captures Dom posted only 13 days ago and the difference in size, especially the wings.