Day 30. The three fluffballs are getting bigger and there’s not much room left in the nest box for the owlets and adults. The female is now out hunting with the male at night and it won’t be long for them to start roosting elsewhere during the day. When that happens, we should be able to go in and have a closer look at the owlets.
Month: May 2022
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Running out of room
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Category: Barn Owls -
Chitter chatter
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Category: Barn OwlsDay 20 and the owlets are gaining their fluffy coats so soon the female won’t need to keep them warm and can go out hunting with the male. The remaining eggs look dirty and she has almost certainly given up on them.
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Exception to the rule
We’ve made the decision to add a non-native species to the pond: grass carp. Originally from Asia where they are used to get rid of weeds in paddy fields and that is what we need them for here. We have the first signs of broadleaved pondweed in the pond and really do not want it to take hold as it could completely take over, as it has done in the small pond.
The fish are herbivores and won’t eat amphibia or other fish, and won’t breed either and so are a safe and hopefully effective form of weed control. So long as the herons don’t eat them.
Fishy lawnmowers 
The first signs of broadleaved pondweed 
Uncontrolled broadleaved pondweed in the small pond -
Getting bigger
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Category: Barn OwlsThe female is struggling to control the three hatchlings and sit on the remaining eggs at the same time. The oldest is now two weeks old and all three are doing well, with the male bringing back plenty of food each night.
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Pink and wriggly
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Category: Barn OwlsThe three hatchlings are doing well; getting bigger, bolder and harder for the female to keep under her. The male is not interested at all!
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3 hatchlings, 4 eggs
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Category: Barn OwlsAnother egg has hatched (the last of the original three) and yet another egg has been laid; a total of seven eggs which is more than we have ever had before.
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2 hatchlings, 4 eggs
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Category: Barn OwlsAnother egg has hatched, but another egg has also been laid! Very unusual. There are now two hatchlings (both doing well) and four eggs. Three of these have only been laid recently and even if they hatch they are unlikely to survive as the chicks will be so much smaller than the older ones.
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First hatchling of 2022
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Category: Barn OwlsThe first barn owl egg has hatched, 33 days after it it was laid, and the hatchling is doing well so far. The next egg should hopefully hatch in a couple of days. The female may even lay another egg too (but that would be unusual). We’ll keep you posted!
The male was out early this evening, an hour before dusk. He now has a growing family to feed so needs to get started early.
A day later and another egg has appeared; the eggs are hatching as more are being laid. Very odd!
One hatchling, four eggs (and five field voles!)
