Adventures With Mel & Syd: Adventures with Mel and Syd

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

Friday, February 8, 2013

Adventures with Mel and Syd - Owl Antics

Incoming screeches heard 6:00pm
Mel answers back
then the female landed on the porch 6:01pm.
Mel went wild with eggcitement and danced and deeted for close to four minutes.

A Distant screech heard while Mel was inside. The female landed on the porch.

As she flew to her Syd's favorite branch 6:30pm, Mel stepped out. She took off buzzing the Kastle.
He decided not to give chase & stepped back inside. Again distant deets heard & Mel answered.

Mel was seen peeking his head out the door 10:09 and appeared to be snapping at the female and trying to bite her.
Was this an attempt at kissy face??

Mel continues to dance for the female and sings his best song.
(bottom view shows camera lag and Mel sleeping)
The female then flew off with Mel following.
Both away at 12:10am.

(Side Note)
At 1:57am an owl landed on the porch , then took off but returned and left when the rain started.

Mel returned at 3:04.
Incoming deets heard 4:40 before an owl landed
on the porch.
As Mel began to deet he showed her his famous Shuffle – step to the left, step to the right, hop hop hop repeat.
As the owl departed 4:46am, the dancing & deeting stopped.

He rearranged the furniture then stepped out 5:00 then back in 5:16. A crash landing on the porch 5:58.
The female owl took off immediately but was spotted in the air 2 minutes later.