The three barn owl chicks are now flying free and the parent birds are sitting on a new clutch! Read on to watch their first flights. From the beginning: Click here to read the full story of this barn owl family
July 2019
Barn Owl Chicks Fly Free
First flights and a new brood
The barn owl chicks have fledged. My cameras caught all the action as they prepared for their first flights, flapping their wings to strengthen their wing muscles and hopping up the sides of the nest box. Then the important day came when the most adventurous chick bobbed up to the entrance of the nest hole.
As they practised, their parents brought them food. Interestingly, it was mainly the male who fed them, bringing small rodents and voles. Then at 9 weeks old the first two chicks fledged the nest. It was magical to see them fly free.
These two owlets moved into the tawny owl's old nest box, Beech Stump, leaving the third chick in Elm Stump alone. Interestingly there was a stock dove already in this box sitting on eggs. Despite being so young, the two owlets pushed it out. There was even more drama when a jackdaw invaded the nest and tucked in to one of the stockdove's eggs!
This last chick didn't look well. It was lethargic and stumbled often. I kept a close eye on it, but gradually the owlet recovered and is now also flying free.
The barn owlets remained in the garden for a few more weeks. Meanwhile, their parents were making plans for a new family! The adult pair moved into the kestrel's old nest box, Sycamore Stump, and the female laid four more eggs. So we are now waiting for another brood here at Fotherdale!
https://youtu.be/9EyqGmoCJ14
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Barn Owl Artwork
My Barn Owl Paintings
Art inspired by this barn owl nest camera
My webcams are essentially studies for my paintings. Here are a few of the paintings inspired by watching and learning about his bird pair up close.
I also paint tawny owls and little owls. Click here to see my complete collection of owl art prints.
And click here to see my luxury owl art gifts.
Barn Owl On Lookout | Fine Art Print | Shop Now
Barn Owl On Cart | Fine Art Print | Shop Now
Barn Owl At Rest | Fine Art Print | Shop Now
'Snuggled Up' | Fine Art Print | Shop NowRead More:
Barn Owl Nest Camera 2019: From the beginning: what has happened this year so far on my Barn Owl Nest Camera
See how the paintings this barn owl nest camera inspired: https://www.robertefuller.com/my-owl-art-print-collection/
Follow my other nest cameras:
Tawny Owl Nest Camera 2019: https://www.robertefuller.com/category/nestcams/tawny-owl-nest-cameras/
Kestrel Nest Camera 2019: https://www.robertefuller.com/category/nestcams/kestrel-nest-cameras/
Peregrine Nest Camera 2019: https://www.robertefuller.com/category/peregrine-nest-camera-2/
Read more about my adventures with barn owls here:
Read about what happened in my 2018 Barn Owl Nest Camera: https://www.robertefuller.com/barn-owl-cam/
Read how I helped Barn Owls to thrive on the Yorkshire Wolds: https://www.robertefuller.com/helping-barn-owls-survive/
Read how I got a wild barn owl mother to take on some foundling owlets: https://www.robertefuller.com/wild-barn-owl-mum-takes-on-foundlings/
External links:
Read more about the extraordinary pattern of egg-laying on the Barn Owl Trust website: https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/sitemap/galleries/barn-owl-nests-eggs/
Music Credits:
https://www.zapsplat.com
