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

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Adventures With Sydney

Another hot and muggy day across the North county yesterday with some temps reaching up to 91* in Oceanside Ca.
Some of you may have been worried that Sydney was to hot in the box but owls are able to reduce their body temperature in hot weather by "panting" through partially opened bills. This is called "gular fluttering" - (gular having to do with the throat area.) Warm air is exchanged ambient air which is drawn into the highly vascular throat where the blood vessels are constricted, thus enabling heat dispersion. Also at high temps, owls may stand erect, droop wings & use gular flutter to self-cool.
Owls also get their water (fluids) from the prey they consume..




Click on any picture for larger viewing

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Sydney left the box at 8:48pm OBT