Blog Archives
Empty Nest
It seems that with all the exercising and commotion from the owlets in the last few days before fledging cleaned off the spider web to get a clean view. There were 5 eggs but only 4 owlets. It is not known what became of the 5th egg/owlet. Anyway, all 4 have fledged. First 2 on the during the night of the 23rd/24th and the last 2 fledged during the day of the 24th. The last 2 years I had not been able to located any of the family once they had fledged. This year, for the first time I found the male out roosting low, right infront of the nest a couple days before fledging, and part of the family was visible the morning of the 24th, when only 2 owlets had fledged. The male the lowest a sugar maple that is next to the nest box tree where he roosted before fledging, the owlets were a bit higher up, and the female higher still. The other 2 fledged before the evening of the 24th, and as of this morning of the 25th, they were out of sight. I could hear them, but could not find them. They sounded like they were higher up in the sugar maple that is fully leaved providing great cover.
oh good the spider web was removed, 4 owlets
Male roosting out front before fledging.
The family:
Male
Female, higher up facing the ‘wrong’ way
2 of the 4 owlets
Getting Ready
Although its tough to see inside the box as (I think) a spider web is really blocking the view. I was able to see at least four owlets that appear to be getting very close to fledging. Lots of flapping of wings and looking at the mom in the entrance. She was staying above they fray. This has been a site that I have yet to find them once they fledge. Hopefully this is the year.
Hatched
Sometime on or before April 22 (when the pic was taken) the first egg hatched. She never got up, but I did hear the chick like noises and her tail was moving as if something was wiggling underneath it, by now they have all (that will) hatched. I checked the cam on Saturday afternoon, and again, no count as she didn’t get up but she was busy feeding them, and I saw at least one mouse that had been cached. Food is alway a pleasant sight with a box cam.
Only One Owlet, Lots of Photos
Site 1
Update from (4-20-12):
Got a couple more photos from Day 5 after fledging, This was their last day in the crab apple they have moved off now.
This site only fledged a lone owlet this year. Previously 2010 there were 6 fledglings, last year 3 fledglings. So it may just be a tough year food wise here, despite the ‘easy’ winter. Anyway, it fledged on the night/early am of the 14-15th of april. Which is just about a full week earlier than 2010 (with a first egg date of February 19th). They consistently have taken the same path through some large Yews to a Crab Apple, one of the earliest tree with leaves. They have hung out the last 3 days in the crab apple. Wrapping up this site as the owl family will soon be off and most likely unable to be located. As usual larger versions of the pics can be view by clicking 2 times (slow)
The dad just prior to fledging in a eastern red cedar
Mom in yew (day 1 after fledging)
Owlet in yew (day 1 after fledging)
Dad at the end of the row of yews (day 2)
Mom (Day 2)
Owlet (Day 2)
Dad (Day 3 crab apple)
Mom (Day 3)
Owlet (Day 3)
Day 5 Mom and Dad, the owlet was there but very well concealed so could really get an additional pic.
Incubating 5 Eggs
Checked in on the cam just as the female hopped up to the entrance and saw 5 eggs(last 2 nesting she has laid 5 eggs too!), and she is now incubating, she hopped down very quickly as well, so no pic. That would put the first egg somewhere right around March 26th when I last checked, she was not incubating but never saw underneath to see if any eggs were laid.
Not Incubating
Based on History, we are pretty close to egg laying time at this site. There could be an egg underneath her (or Not). Based on this position seen yesterday around noon, she was not incubating. This is a standard roosting position. Things will probably be changing soon. (hopefully)
What’s He Doing?
Unlike the last 2 years, the male has been spending lots of time in the slot style SQR box. This has been used as a nest the last two years, with eggs being laid 3rd week in February. History would have him staying in ‘his’ box. I have not seen the female since early feb, which isn’t unusual as she would only make very brief breaks at dark and pre-dawn for pellet/bathroom breaks from incubating.
So, is the female down below incubating peaceably and he is standing guard?
has the female chosen somewhere else to nest?
or has the female disappeared and he’s hanging on the prime nest box?
ahh if only the cam was working. Hopefully this will be known as the season progresses.
Closing In
The anticipation as we close in on the nesting season, this is the only cam for this ‘trail’ since site 1′s cam is out of commission. Based on the history nesting here is about a month away. Hopefully, since the female has been spending more time in the box she has used as a nest in the last 2 nesting seasons, she will again choose this box for a nest.
Should be Getting Close
If the last 2 years (feb 19 and feb 20 first eggs) are any indication there should be the first egg laid soon, given the mild winter there could already be one. This couple clock is about 1 month ahead of most screech owls in massachusetts for nesting. But as I mentioned earlier the box cam was damaged beyond repair with a tropical storm last august (2011) and it hasn’t been replaced yet, hopefully by next season. Anyway the male has been in the nest box recently? does this mean the female is down below or things just haven’t got started yet. I am unwilling to open the box up to check for fear of disturbing them. The time line for incubation to fledging is fairly well established so if things progress smoothly things can be back calculated from when owlets fledge with in a couple days of egg laying. Which is good enough for me.
Copulating Couple
First, sorry no terrific photos (no photos at all) of the event.
The male was seen in the pole box in the late afternoon. He remains very elusive except when staying in this box, and even then he just seems skittish. The female was in the (previously nest) SQR type box (w/cam) a good opportunity to watch the couple at fly out. The female flew out first called a few times, and then was joined by them male. I got to observe a brief copulation and then they flew off.
The female from the inside the box, sitting in the hole before flyout.
The female from outside the box.
The male in the Pole box.
Nice to See
Last year She was first seen in the box October 13. This year 2 days earlier, but still remarkably consistent, saw some first of the year Junco’s here as well. Anyway the cam got damaged during T.S. Irene, so no box cam yet, there is a possibility there won’t be one for a while. So enjoy the photos. All three massachusetts nest sites from last (2010-2011) season now have had owl activity for the new season.
Female SIte 1 first sighting since fledging
Mom is Out
There are five owlets that seem to be doing well, the seem to be a few days behind the schedule of the owls at Site 8. The are getting big and doing a lot of flapping of their wings, but have not made it to the entrance yet. With the crowded and very active conditions, the red phased mom has been spending the days out of the box. Thursday, 5/19, she spend at least an hour calling (whinny) from the entrance of the box, almost non-stop from 5:45 pm -6:45 pm. Don’t know what to make of that, but a note on record anyway. Male remains elusive when not in the pole box, which it been a week or two since.
@ ISO 800
Texas Round Up
2 of 3 Texas owl cam sites have owls, and both have had some trials which always is educational.
http://chriswjohnson.blogspot.com/search/label/Nest%20Box%20Cam
Chris Johnson’s had parasites, and fire ants, had to bring one young to a rehabilitator, returned it with an additional foster owlet for the parents to raise!
http://screechcam.blogspot.com/
this site one of the young passed away.
Fascinating stuff!
Repeat of 5 eggs
With site 1′s owls moving away, we can turn our attention to Site 3, where there were 5 eggs. Which is the same as last year. Her diligence made it difficult to get a count, but finally as of May 1, got word that 4 eggs have hatched with one egg remaining. Very similar to last years schedule as well.
3 owlets and photo opps.
Well, It looks like only 3 of the eggs were successful. In talking to Phil Brown, who helps out with the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas. We both suspect that the first egg that was laid most likely froze. Phil noted, Before she started incubating (screech owl may not start incubating until the second or even third egg is laid), there was a night were she was gone for a few hours and the air temps were ~ 15 degrees F. However the three remaining owlets are seem to be doing well.
meanwhile, with the milder temps the male has been roosting in some of the near by evergreens, they seem to be creatures of habit. He frequents some of the same places he roosted last year. It certainly makes him easier to find.
Although sometimes he gets displaced, or just decides to move (by mobbing songbirds or ???) today he flew into the natural cavity after starting out in an eastern juniper.
