SNN (ScrollingNetworkNews) ✿ ✿ Our Mel and Sydney returned to their nesting box with plenty of bonding occurring..but after 2.5 months of Sydney in the box from Dec 2013 to mid Feb 2014, the lack of prey gifts from Mel ( perhaps due to the severe and historic drought underway in California)and they have forgone the nesting process this year as many other raptors ✿ Compared to other owls of similar size, the Barn Owl has a much higher metabolic rate, requiring relatively more food. Pound for pound, Barn Owls consume more rodents – often regarded as pests by humans – than possibly any other creature. ✿ We remind viewers that sometimes owlets may not survive - the parents will dispose of things in "The Owl Way" -viewer discretion is advised, this is nature and the "Owl way". ✿ ~ ✿ “Animals, like us, are living souls. They are not things. They are not objects. Neither are they human. Yet they mourn. They love. They dance. They suffer. They know the peaks and chasms of being.” ― Gary Kowalski, The Souls of Animals ✿ Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius." ~ E.O. Wilson

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Hayward Area Recreation and Park District Hatch

It took a few more days than expected, but the first owlet at Hayward’s Sulphur Creek Nature Center finally cracked through its shell and made its way into the world.
At 10:35 p.m. Tuesday night, one of the eggs in the owl box was seen by SFBay wiggling while mama was away momentarily. Then, just as she re-entered, a foot emerged from the egg.
Mama promptly snuggled in on top of it, while papa came and went, possibly excited, possibly retrieving food for his newborn offspring.
The fresh, wobbly owlet can be seen several times in the attached video, still only minutes old.
The owlets had been expected to hatch over the weekend, but apparently needed a bit more time to get things just so.
Congratulations to the owl family and to the Nature Center! You can watch the webcam to see the new baby or maybe even one of the next eggs hatching.