I lost my breeding pair of barn owls early this year but a youngster has just taken up occupation of the Owl Box in our roof. I dont know if it is male or female but I wonder -
1. How does it find a mate?,and
2. How long will this take?
3. As the old pair would over winter away from our home but always return, is this young owl just overwintering or is it likely to remain?
Barny Owl
Sorry to hear you've lost your owls. Can't answer your question but answering this to keep the post to the top of the list as I'd like to know the answer too! It would be great if you had a new permanent resident - hope you keep us all posted on this!
Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games [Robert Falcon Scott]
Hi,
Unknown said: I lost my breeding pair of barn owls early this year but a youngster has just taken up occupation of the Owl Box in our roof. I dont know if it is male or female but I wonder - 1. How does it find a mate?,and 2. How long will this take? 3. As the old pair would over winter away from our home but always return, is this young owl just overwintering or is it likely to remain? Barny Owl
It's a hard one to give a specific answer to,but Barn Owls are not always monogamus and may take several partners. This often happens when prey is abundant and several broods can be maintained. Also they don't really have a specific breeding season.
Graham
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Hi nestbox
Sorry for your loss but hope it's soon when he/she gets a mate.
Graham, taking into account all the factors you mention could this mean that Barn Owls can potentially breed any time of the year or in fact all through the year if the environment is right?
There are a pair that live on what we call the marshes between Clacton and Holland on Sea. One day as I drove home from work I had the privilege of having a barn owl fly parrallell with the car for about 200 yards before veering off - I was only doing about 30 as I cut my speed when I spotted it - thankfully nothing else was coming so I was able to take full advantage - wonderful creatures.
Regards
Kerry
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Hi Kesmo,
Reading your post it appears that you think it is me that lost he Owls when in fact it was Barny Owl who lost them. I was mearly pointing out some of the breeding habits. If it is Me that has missunderstood your reply I say sorry in advance.
You must have been over the moon to have the Owl following you. I think personally I would have had the car offthe road. LOL
Hi Graham
You are right I did mean Barny Owl - sorry I got confused.
Graham, the same question applies? can Barn Owls potentially breed all through the year if the environment is right - but then I have read some where that garden birds may breed much later than normal if food is still plentiful
Unknown said: Hi Graham You are right I did mean Barny Owl - sorry I got confused. Graham, the same question applies? can Barn Owls potentially breed all through the year if the environment is right - but then I have read some where that garden birds may breed much later than normal if food is still plentiful
It would depend very much on climate and condition I would have thought. I would not think they would breed in this country throught the winter months as food would be less available.
Barn owls are known all over the world with names such as Monkey faced owl, Death owl,Churh owl and Hobgobling to name a few.
Hi All,
Just to add a little detail -
S/he flies regularly out at 7.15 pm & am at present. This I know will change as the nights draw in. If only my TV was not so far from my nest box camera..........
Have any of you got an answer to my query about Great Tits and the Red Kite over Lostwithiel in Cornwall?
Hi Barny Owl,
Barn Owls can be either solitary or in pairs outside of the breeding season. Pairs and individuals of either sex can hold territory throughout the year, and presumably defend it through the winter although territorial drive will be lower than during the nesting season. Certainly once they secure a nesting territory it will be tradtional for its adult life. Territory is pretty big though, 60 hectares according to the BTO! Certainly outside of the breeding season they will have several different roosting spots within this range.
At the beginning of the breeding season (vast majority start in April) the nest site or prospective nest site (within this territory) will be the main focus for the birds display - which is an advertising call every few seconds from the roost.
The males also have a flight display to attract females and repel any potential rivals. Unpaired birds are especially vocal during this time. Regular pursuit flights are the give away sign of early pairing. The males flies just above and behind the female following her persistently and twisting and turning with both frequently screeching.
I would imagine if the bird fails to attract a mate there is perhaps more change of it been ousted by a more dominant pair. If there are few other birds in the area it may very well hold the territory for itself, however i would expect it would move between different roosts.
Hope that helps!
LS