Barn owls- A Love Story

[Phil-D]

A quick back story........

A few years ago I built and installed a Barn owl box in an out building on a local farm. Its been used for the last 3 years, the pair have successfully raised 8 young in total.

The owner extended his security system and installed a camera in the box and kindly gave me login detail to access the camera. Sadly, quality was fairly poor.......until this year

New system installed, sound with the ability to take snapshots and record video, I watch it more than the telly

This week I was fortunate to log on just as he was doing the deed, not sure if its his first attempt but will have an idea when the first egg is laid.

View: https://youtu.be/Vj_EMJjy9vo

 

[woof woof]

Great stuff Phil. Glad you're getting a lot of enjoyment from this. Mrs WW wants a box, I'll have to get around to it.

 

[Phil-D]

Great stuff Phil. Glad you're getting a lot of enjoyment from this. Mrs WW wants a box, I'll have to get around to it.

Cheers Alan, I've just finished putting an outside box up at one of our local reservoirs, its a bit late for this year but fingers crossed for next.

I didn't build this one, its made from some fancy new MDF called Trycoia, guaranteed water resistant for 50 years apparently, let's hope the owls appreciate it

 

[Vintage Racer]

Fantastic work Phil.......good luck with the new box!

 

[Phil-D]

Fantastic work Phil.......good luck with the new box!

Thanks Glynn, Barn owls have been a local success story in the South Pennines, with a good steady increase in breeding pairs over the last few years.

Think in our local recording area, last year we were up to 8 breeding pairs from only a couple of pairs around 10 years ago, cheers

 

[Phil-D]

Well that was an unexpected surprise, 1st egg laid earlier today

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Phil I'll watch the vids sometime with Shaz she'll love them I'd like to share that experience so no vid comments she adores barnie bro .alot of admiration though well done mate.

Ahh kiddo I'm also working the boxes ( and making 'em) I'm not doing well Phil it is hilariously funny this year.

My great tit box is now inhabited by a colony of white tailed bumble bees ( we believe,) my tawny owl box is now in use by great tits

I think in some small way I have done something good but it's fairly obvious nest box building for a species is not my forte.

stu

 

[Nod]

Better build an Osprey box, Stu!

 

[Malfis]

Just out of interest - this year I am the Mens Club Captain at my golf club.
As part of our sustainability programme we have installed approximately 40 nesting boxes (loads of different types) in various parts of the course.
We have financed them by asking members to sponsor/pay for individual boxes - it’s been a great success.
Hopefully next year I might even be able to get some worthwhile images!

 

[Phil-D]

Phil I'll watch the vids sometime with Shaz she'll love them I'd like to share that experience so no vid comments she adores barnie bro .alot of admiration though well done mate.

Ahh kiddo I'm also working the boxes ( and making 'em) I'm not doing well Phil it is hilariously funny this year.

My great tit box is now inhabited by a colony of white tailed bumble bees ( we believe,) my tawny owl box is now in use by great tits

I think in some small way I have done something good but it's fairly obvious nest box building for a species is not my forte.

stu

Morning Stu, cheers matey

Good luck with the boxes. Suppose thats the problem, we never really know what might use 'em. I've a Blue tit box up at a local reservoir that bees/wasps? are using, no idea species, I've only viewed it from distance.

Talking to us local S1 ringer other day, he was saying most of his Tawny boxes are occupied by squirrels, no sooner does he clean them out and they're back!

Think there's 3 eggs now, I need to catch her having a stretch to be certain. Can't wait for the chicks, watching and hearing 'em being fed

Thanks for dropping by buddy, I'll put some more vids up as and when they hatch

Take care
Phil

 

[Phil-D]

4 eggs this evening

 

[Stuart Philpott]

We just got to watch video Phil..OMG barn owls mating sound just like my bloody hodge hegs having a spat ( OK old deaf muso ears doing the hearing, but they do)

Phil ya have 4 eggs, so the window for laying..................... has she laid every other day? and is she incubating...brooding from the first egg? Which will give the staggered hatch?

an is the vole pop good enough that she will knock out another egg or two..................... in the off chance they might feed all those kids? Will watch quietly buddy thanks so so much for sharing all this

Buddy I'm good with not being good at box making tailored to a species, if bumbly bees use a home I made then in my tiny world that rocks.............same with tawny box. and GT's.....but bloody grey squggels draw a line in the sand for me.

The bees are on the doorway/ frame to my studio mate.........most of the time they are lovely and we just stand and adore , real close....................... an all is good with the world.

But every now and then they are grumpier than a ferkin hodge heg.think it's weather related Phil it does make me giggle. We watched the queen set up shop by chance mate right place right time.now in the night we stand close by to listen to a box humming it's lovely mate

not what was intended but I can't help be besotted
hey ho tiny things for tiny minds not quite a barnie is it

 

[Phil-D]

Morning Stu

Phil ya have 4 eggs, so the window for laying..................... has she laid every other day? and is she incubating...brooding from the first egg? Which will give the staggered hatch?

I'm guessing so, tbh, I was surprised to see 4 so quickly, books say every 2 to 3 days so she's definitely been busy laying one every other day and yes, she's been brooding from the first.

Although there's been a camera in since box went up, it was poor quality. Last year we were struggling to count the number of eggs so being able to watch in detail this year is all new and a good learning curve.

an is the vole pop good enough that she will knock out another egg or two..................... in the off chance they might feed all those kids?

Stu, these Barnies are fortunate, they have access to over 20,000 sq ft of barns, outbuildings and stables. I wouldn't have a clue how many rodents an area like that will sustain but the owls definitely take advantage on wet nights being able to hunt inside.

I would say this year isn't a bumper vole year but owls in general seem to be doing ok. One thing that has been noted so far this year, we haven't as many pairs of Shorties on the moors. Last year we had around a dozen breeding pairs but the dry warm spring and summer last year made for a good vole year. Its been very wet so far this year and it'll certainly have an effect on vole numbers.

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Lol evening Phil

That is a really interesting insight Phil........it has never occurred to me that on wet nights barnie might hunt indoors. Matey thanks for sharing all this it's going to be so cool to see how they fare. I really wanted to instal camera in owl box but besides time and dosh the GT's we in so fast...prob second clutch be now. Nice to watch with better gear Phil especially if one makes images

Winter SEO preddy much absent here bud.we don't to the best of my knowledge have breeding here, but the winter visitors i have watched for years simply never came. Don't know what the big picture is there Phil.

I'm not spending the time in the field I want ( so time pressed not fun) but my take would be the wet locally would be /is having a marked effect on our local barn owls. I'm seeing more hunting by day than possibly I ever have before...lets hope it dries up as your eggs hatch, even with indoor hunting possibilities, those kids will need alot of food Dad needs some dry time to haul in the catch or the laws of the survival of the fittest kick in and the last eggs laid don't make it

TFS bud will be entralling to see how it all pans out for them

 

[Phil-D]

Been hoping for a better shot but looks like she could be sitting on 6 eggs!