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, February 21, 2013

Adventures with Mel and Syd

Our owls again spent the day inside the box allopreening each other and it seemed that Sydney would just not hush with the squawking.
To some this is music to their ears as we know that this is our first sign of impending eggs to come, to others it could be just torture and seems endless.

The female will do this squawking to condition the Male to hunt for her while she broods eggs and later her owlets. She will do this squwaking only when the male is with her and then stops when he leaves the nest.
Mel steps out for the hunt at 9:57pm
Mel bringing home a slider mouseie for Sydney -

 Treat #1 at 10:16pm
Mel has been perfecting his "FlingNFly" as he flies in with treat #2 at 11:34pm and another mousie slider and like a flash is gone..
It was playtime later as Mel flies off and Sydney goes from the roof to the playground and time for a little outdoor bonding 


Picture showing camera lag after bonding - not three owls

Sydney hears Mel arriving, could there be another treat?

Treat #3 at 1:02 am is welcomed this time with a quick bonding and a headless Gopher.
Wonder where its head went?
The owl will remove the head on much larger prey as to protect themselves from being bitten as the prey tries to survive the attack.
NOTE:
We remind our sensitive viewers that now is the time to get those post it notes. They work wonders to post to their computer screens when its just to much to see.
Down the hatch!

and the look of rapture after the Gulp.

Sydney is home alone today and has made good progress on her pellets that have been broken up by her to provided a nice soft and warm bedding for her eggs that will be coming soon.

Get your date and times in for the OaO (first egg laid ) contest by clicking on the email link on the left hand side column of the blog