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, February 2, 2013

Adventures with Mel and Syd

After spending his first full day with us inside the box on Feb 1st Mel emerged from the nesting box 7:55pm deeting.
He stayed on the porch perch till 8:34 then reentered the box. Mel stepped out again 10:59 but this time flew off. Several screeches heard in the area followed by a flyby 11:40.
A porch landing observed 11:50 & stayed 1 minute then took off.
More screeches heard.
Again another porch landing & at the same time a flyby 1:27am.
Mel returned stepping into the box 1:30, exited 2:41, went back in 3:00, backed up to squirt in the box 3:17 then dozed off.

He has decided to stay the day making this 2 in a row.”




A lesson on the face- 

Just who are these owl face pictures? 
Know doubt many of you will say about the one on the Right, that is our Mel, just look how sweet that face is. He is relaxed and at home inside the box. 
But the one on the left, who is that owl? 
It appears young and seems like it is not familiar with the box at all! 
The braiding around the face is much different and look at those eyes, they are not Mel's eyes and the beak (bill) is much longer..

Ugh ! Who is this Owl??

Well truth is they are both pictures of Mel taken within 20 minutes of each other. Many things can change the look of the owl face by the many faces of expression the owl makes and can totally distort the face from which many of us are use to seeing.

The expression of hearing something is just one of those things, being excited is another when another owl is around perhaps outside.

Lets all try to remember this when it comes to trying to ID a owl after its been months since we've seen our pair as a relaxed loving couple inside the kastle together.