[wisb] Barred Owls Fledged

From: Rick Pertile <mugzy1960@xxxxxxx>
To: <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 22:36:10 -0500















Another successful year in the way of fledged barred owls from my nest box in 
Sawyer county.

Sometime on Friday evening (May 27th) the first and largest barred owl chick 
left the nest box.  This was exactly 29 days after the first egg hatched and I 
must say this is the earliest I've ever had one leave the nest.  He had been 
sitting in the entrance hole that morning and it was quite windy so perhaps it 
was unintentional.  In past years they have averaged around 32-36 days before 
they fledged.

The other two chicks left on Thursday June 2nd, one late that afternoon and the 
other sometime between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.  These fledglings fell within the 
timeline that I've seen before in years past.

I was only able to locate one of the young birds the following morning when the 
last two fledged, and it had already climbed very high into a large oak tree 
about 40 ft from the nest box. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly they 
branch out and how difficult they are to find afterward.  3 years ago was the 
only time I've ever been able to photograph them all sitting together high up 
in an aspen tree.  

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/6277/2357932630104648965S600x600Q85.jpg

So since I put up the box in 2002 it has been occupied 8 out of 10 years (2002 
& 2004 the box was not used) and every year they have successfully raised 3 
chicks with the exception of last year where they fledged 4.  That makes for a 
total of 25 young barred owl fledged.  I have to say I never dreamed it would 
be this successful, but must also say I've been enjoying the moment and 
learning some cool things regarding their egg laying, overall behavior and more 
recently menu items since I installed the camera a few years back.  Small 
mammalian prey are the mainstay of their diet but frogs are also high on the 
menu.  Occasionally I've seen a night crawler delivered, which at first seems 
to confuse the young more than anything before one gets brave enough to slime 
it down. 

Regards,

Rick Pertile
Sawyer County, near Birchwood







                                          
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[wisb] Barred Owls Fledged

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