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

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Adventures with Mel and Syd

After spending the day with his true love, Mel left on his FFN 7:58pm. He didn’t waste time hunting returning 8:16 with 1st treat - volpher (per kanga: vole or gopher)
He gave it to Sydney, bonded. then left 8:18. She ate it forthwith.
He returned 8:53 with 2nd treat – rabbit. She placed it in the pantry straightway. She stepped out for her FFN 9:28-9:32.

 The 3rd owl, made an appearance 10:28 landing on the playground. His visit was short, 2 minutes leaving 10:32.
 He returned 1:02am descending upon the side or back of the Kastle. Sydney voiced her annoyance - beak  snapping. He flew off immediately but returned 2:33 landing of the roof. Syd outraged, darted out chasing him. She returned shortly afterwards landing on the PG then into the Kastle to tend to  her 4 eggs 2:37.

Syd consumed the rabbit 2:44. Mel landed on the roof 3:00 deeting. Henry flew by 3:01. Mel promptly gave chase.

Mel decided to give Syd alone time & is spending the day at the Palmz.

How many of us spent the day looking at Syd's tail feathers waiting for a fifth impending egg? (Guilty)

We are all hoping that four eggs is the completed clutch for Mel and Syd, a much smaller clutch and less "asynchronous" hatching dates (ages) between them will help insure that they all will make it to fledge without the fierce competition for food between them.

Barn Owl Trust - Clutch size and brood size are directly related to food supply - the more food the adults have the more young they produce. Food supply is affected by habitat quality, prey density, the weather and the experience and behavior of the individual adult owls.