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 22, 2013

Adventures with Mel and Syd

Sydney spent the day in the nesting box alone yesterday. Giving Mel and viewers some quiet time.

Worked on some of her pellets tearing them up for nesting

Last night began with Syd calling for Mel 6:25pm. She prepares for Mel who she hears outside coming to the box. He arrived one minute later. The infamous third owl, made an appearance 7:15.

Mel defended his Kastle

(see video below).

Mel greets her with some California surfing. M&S bonded many many times throughout the night. (over 10 times)

Mel brings back a nice sized gift treat for Sydney who snacked and down sized it and later stored it back into her pantry.
Wow look at that tail!

What is it?

Rat of Possum?

While Syd was out on her last flyabout, Mel spied the rat in the corner 3:23am. Being hungry, he began shredding. He tried to gulp down the treat several times to no avail. His dining was interrupted briefly when someone landed on the roof 3:39. It must have been Syd.
That guilty look on his face said it all “caught beak handed” but he continue working on the treat till a flyby 4:08. He started deeting. Syd returned 4:10. Mel handed her the treat.

Hint - Look at the feet on this treat and by looking at them, you can see the toes are those of a possum. Opossums have opposable thumbs on their hind feet which help them to grip branches and climb. They are the only non-primates with opposable thumbs.

She placed it in the pantry but Mel still being hungry, tried to steal it 4:17. So she decided to eat it 4:22 but again he tried to steal it 4:26am

Something got their attention at 5:07am (maybe 3rd owl again?).
Mel assumed a defensive posture, stepped outside then back in 5:08.
No idea what it was.
Everything being as it should be, Mel & Syd bonded, followed up by kissy face & preening.