Community | March 21, 2010 | 7 comments

The Owl Box expects hatchlings any day now!

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maisry
This is a live feed of a wild mother barn owl that has just started setting on her eggs. The owl box is located in our backyard in San Marcos, CA and is 15 feet off the ground. She appears to be a first time mom. The owl is about 14 inches tall. She laid her first egg on February 13th. We are expecting owlets around mid to late March. Incubation is 30 to 34 days. owlets will hatch in order laid. Not all at one time like chickens.

The male has a white chest and face. He usually shows up after dark but has spent an entire day with the female. We have named the female Molly and the male McGee. The Barn Owl is widespread but usually a scarce species. They are strictly nocturnal and rarely observed in flight during daylight hours.

The owl house is located on a 15 foot pole and there is a tree just outside the opening. The box has been up for two years and it took two years before the owls showed up. No other birds have tried to nest in the box. We have a very eco-friendly backyard; we live on an acre lot with lots of trees and plants for wildlife. We have had kestrels, bluebirds, hummingbirds, phoebes, wild ducks, killdeer and mockingbirds all nest and raise their young in our habitat. We do not have any cats or dogs to disturb the wildlife. This is our first owl to nest here.

Date Laid 32 day gestation 34 day gestation
Egg 1 2/13/10 12:15 PM 3/17/2010 3/18/2010
Egg 2 2/16/10 07:23 AM 3/20/2010 3/22/2010
Egg 3 2/18/10 09:13 AM 3/22/2010 3/24/2010
Egg 4 2/20/10 11:07 AM 3/24/2010 3/26/2010
Egg 5 2/22/10 02:00 PM 3/26/2010 3/28/2010
Egg 6 2/25/10 09:35 AM 3/29/2010 3/31/2010


Female: 13 to 16 inches tall. Wingspan 43 inches
Male: 12 to 15 inches tall. Wingspan 42 inches

Camera Information
Logitech Orbit AF
Agama V-1325 R

For outside photos of The Owl Box, Molly and McGree
http://www.theowlbox.blogspot.com

Check out my facebook account: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100 000803210356

Sign up for tweets and follow us. www.twitter.com/mollyowl
http://www.ustream.tv/theowlbox
  1. groups:
    Community
  2. tags:
    Nature,  Wildlife,  Birds,  Owls
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7 comments // The Owl Box expects hatchlings any day now!

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