Mr. and Mrs. O. nest in the 100-feet-tall old eucalyptus tree at the wildlife sanctuary located in Bell Canyon's Starr Ranch. This years hatch is starting one month earlier then last years. Egg No. 1 was laid Dec. 6 and the remaining eggs appeared sequentially several days apart. Eggs No.5 and 6 were laid after that — the intervals longer apart.
The parents are the same two barn owls from last season.
Facts from the Ranch-
We don’t have any info on the adults using this cavity prior to 2008. In 2009 the male and female were banded, but we were unable to read the band on the female, so don’t know her history. However, the male was captured that season and fitted with a color band on left leg (black with a white ‘87 ). The current female, who raised at least three clutches (a group of eggs laid in a nest at one time) in the cavity, was banded as at least a two-year old on 03/07/07 approximately 300 yards south of the cavity. The current male is at least 7 years old, having been banded as at least a three-year old on 04/07/06, also approximately 300 yards south of the cavity . He sired the chicks in 2010 but is not the same male as 2009 male. (Info as of Feb 7, 2011)
Come join the Hatch Watch @
http://www.starrranch.org/blog/barn-owl
