What a difference a month makes

Roy and I revisited the birds that we had ringed at the beginning of September and we were delighted to find all four owlets (two males and two females) in really healthy condition. The pictures clearly demonstrate the rapid maturity into adult plumage that has taken place over the last month.

We have selected a male and a female to try and radio track over the coming weeks so that we can learn more about their dispersal habits as they leave their natal site.

The fine September weather has allowed us to get out and about in the evenings this week. Four more old boxes have been replaced with new ones and I look forward to seeing them in use next year.

Replacement boxes

Today we managed to replace a couple of our older boxes with new ones. Both of these sites have held breeding pairs recently and hopefully Mr & Mrs Owl will be happy in them next season.

Fifteen boxes have now been replaced and we hope to add to this number over the coming weeks.

Challenging Breeding Update

Following our visit at the end of July, Roy and I returned to check upon the progress of our last brood of the season. Happily Mum's tremendous efforts have been rewarded with a healthy brood of four young. She was, however, in a pretty grubby state which is the result of being cooped up in the nest box for about three months. Although she had started to moult her feathers on her left wing the right one was in poor condition. The rich habitat around the box should enable both the brood to thrive and allow her to quickly regain her health as she starts to get out and feed.

The ringing of this year's broods has now stretched out from the first one on June 6 to the beginning of September.

New home

I had arranged to visit my friend Ray in order replace a couple of old boxes at Daresbury on Thursday and we were delighted to find this one-year old female at roost. She had not been present when I ringed three chicks there in June but I suspect that she was their mother. After ringing her she happily settled into the new box which should provide better protection through the next Winter.

Barn Owl sounds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HGR3cQNf2M&feature=related

= Young Barn Owls screeching





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O64rXyVOrYM&feature=related

= Adult screeching

Breeding season update

So far we have found 44 breeding pairs of Barn Owls and 106 young have been ringed (we still have one late pair to revisit). Three of our pairs failed, with one, despicably, subject to human predation. Interestingly of the 44 pairs, 17 were in new locations and a further six were in new boxes on previously successful sites.

It would seem reasonable to expect that some of these pairs will double brood this year and we shall check upon their progress in the Autumn.