Is it time to rename the site Tawny Cam?
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Is it time to rename the site Tawny Cam? It looks more and more likely that I'll need to rename the site Tawny Cam. The Tawny owls are visiting the box every night currently. Last night it was on two occasions, the first for just over 50 minutes. The camera has also captured images of the male bringing food to the nest box for the female.
The kestrels are no longer visiting the box in the daytime. They have however taken a great deal of interest in the second nest box that has been erected about 75 m away. Unfortunately there is no camera in that box but it's location will make a good photography site to hopefully get photos of the adults going to and from the box.
Whilst we await for some egg laying action, here's some facts about Tawny owls and what we might expect over the coming months.
Hollow the Tawny Owl - Captive Bred
Courting Period: December to early April. Peak period March
Egg Laying: February to mid-April. Peak period mid-March to early April. Duration 2 to 4 days
Incubation: February to mid-May. Peak period mid-March to early May. Duration 28 to 30 days
Hatching: March to mid-May. Peak period mid-April to early May.
Young in nest: Mid-April to late June. Peak period mid-April to late May.
Juvenile Dispersal: July to late September. Peak period mid-April to late May.
Tawny owls usually lay 2-3 eggs but occasionally up to eight, normally at intervals of 48 hours. Incubation starts with the second egg in clutches of two or more. The eggs hatch asynchronously with the young being brooded by the female for up to 15 days after hatching. During this time the food is delivered by the male.
The photo above is of Hollow the Tawny owl who is a captive bred owl and lives at The Barn Owl Centre just outside Gloucester. The Barn Owl Centre is a UK registered charity, with the mission of the advancement of conservation of the Barn Owl & other species of Owl.
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