Link to 2021 thread
Live stream: https://www.essexwt.org.uk/wildlife/webcams/barn-owl
As with the 2020 season, barn owls did not use the box for breeding in 2021, will this year be different?
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In answer to that question, yes!
9 eggs laid: Incubation period is 30-31 days
Hatches:
1st chick - 21.5.21 2nd chick - 23.5.22 3rd chick - 24.5.22 4th chick - 26.5.22 5th chick - 29.5.22 6th chick - 2.6.22 7th chick - ??? 8th chick - 5.6.22
Unless the female is hiding behind him, just the male in the box at 23:32
Female in the box this morning
and expecting Mr to arrive
Morning Kate, Hoping that with them mating last night showed commitment to this box at long last! :)
"I do wish,you would come and join me"
Noted on the YouTube streaming service vs CCTV.
As for the right eye, it seems there's something not right there, but he seems to be coping, unless Mrs BO is doing all the hunting. But I am purely guessing, as I'm still learning lots, and I'm if I'm wrong you'll correct me.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Sandra P said:Hi Mike, BOs and other owls use their excellent hearing mainly for their hunting skills so this wouldn't be a problem for him. Males are the main provider during breeding season; females do all the incubating/brooding/feeding with the eggs/owlets.
Hi Sandra, many thanks for the reply.
I find it fascinating how nature generally just carries on, no matter what the disability. After watching a coal tit with a crossed mandible during the first lockdown, and though I never saw the brood, it was taking food from the feeders to where I presume a nest was, quite high in a neighbours tree, then back down not very long afterwards, and this was repeated for a good while.
Last summer I have seen at the same time, three coal tits with crossed mandibles, which makes me think there may be a genetic mutation there.