Baby barred owls in my backyard
I built a barred owl house based on the NestWatch specs and put it in my backyard. First watched a raccoon size up the box. Then a few rounds of squirrels. Pretty exciting to then see barred owls investigate the box periodically in early morning hours. Then one day I saw “Beatrice” the barred owl looking out of the nest in the middle of day. She stayed continuously in the nest for over a months with regular food deliveries from “Barry”. Soon after that we noticed Beatrice leave the nest for brief moments maybe for a bit of reprieve or to help with hunting for the growing babies. I happened to be there to take video of the first fledge and of that fledgling climbing a nearby tree to safety. Once they both fledged it became difficult to find them but once a day I would seek them out and typically could find and photograph at least one fledgling and a parent. One highlight for me was a couple weeks after fledge when I found the two babies together one a single branch. Before my eyes I witnessed for the first time one successfully fly to another treetop and the sibling immediately follow. Another highlight was watching a parent deliver a short tailed shrew to a fledgling. I sent that picture to a local biologist for confirmation of the schrew identification. Fascinating stuff.
Backyard Barred Owls
I built a barred owl house based on the NestWatch specs and put it in my backyard. First watched a raccoon size up the box. Then a few rounds of squirrels. Pretty exciting to then see barred owls investigate the box periodically in early morning hours. Then one day I saw “Beatrice” the barred owl looking out of the nest in the middle of day. She stayed continuously in the nest for over a months with regular food deliveries from “Barry”. Soon after that we noticed Beatrice leave the nest for brief moments maybe for a bit of reprieve or to help with hunting for the growing babies. I happened to be there to take video of the first fledge and of that fledgling climbing a nearby tree to safety. Once they both fledged it became difficult to find them but once a day I would seek them out and typically could find and photograph at least one fledgling and a parent. One highlight for me was a couple weeks after fledge when I found the two babies together one a single branch. Before my eyes I witnessed for the first time one successfully fly to another treetop and the sibling immediately follow. Another highlight was watching a parent deliver a short tailed shrew to a fledgling. I sent that picture to a local biologist for confirmation of the schrew identification. Fascinating stuff.
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers mob a Barred Owl
A pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers mob a Barred Owl that is perched too close to the nest.
Barred Owl
We have a Barred Owl that sometimes visits our backyard. She doesn’t seem to mind my presence. She seems as curious about me as I am about her
Baby Owletts made their appearance !
Have been waiting to see if there were 1 or 2 babies ! So happy to see 2
Barred Owl nesting
Third year of our nest box being used by Barred Owls. Hopfully we’ll see the babies soon !
Barred Owls in our nest box
Once we put the predator guards on the nest box tree the Barred Owls had a successful brood. Our trail cameras caught hundreds of great pictures – her are a few.
The Barred Owl family is still around and we see and hear them quite often. We saw the fledglings a lot after they left the box. So exciting for us !
Barred Owl Family
While Nest Watching, I have also been watching and hearing a barred owl family living in our 8 acres of mixed woods, with two small ponds. The nest was off our property. So, I could only barely see the large twig structure from the property line. But, once the babes were out of the nest (“branching”), I heard them calling mom or dad for food, day and night! (It is a one note call that is repeated continually till food arrives. It is easy to ID, as it is a soft high pitch and raspy.)
On May 1, I located the source of the sound I was hearing and took the photo of the feather ball babe seen in the first photo.
At that time, I thought there was only one owlet. However, as the months progressed, I realized that I was hearing two youngsters calling. So, I was very happy when I finally saw the twins at dusk, perched on a low tree limb near my house. Their calls were particularly loud and desperate sounding!
On June 9th, I followed the calls for the last time! I have not heard the twins since that day. I was thrilled to see this mature owlet. Its sibling was up higher in the tree, so I could not get a good photo of him or her.
Then, the next day, I happened to see one of the adults, checking me out as I walked in our woods. Fortunately, I had my camera handy. I’ve learned not to leave my house empty handed.
Barred Owl Pellet Contents
We started hearing and seeing much more of two Barred Owls in March around the time the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. We’ve been clearing the woods of invasive ivy and holly trees with time at home. The owls have been watching us. They seem to enjoy having more open understory with holly trees going away and have more ground to hunt. We’ve found two owl pellets, both of which showed strong evidence of mole remains. We’ve also found some rabbit parts. In May we started hearing baby sounds. This second week of June we finally saw them and they are fledgling. We think there are at least two owlets.
Barred Owls Hang Out in Forest Habitat
We started hearing and seeing much more of two Barred Owls in March around the time the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. We’ve been clearing the woods of invasive ivy and holly trees with time at home. The owls have been watching us. They seem to enjoy having more open understory with holly trees going away and have more ground to hunt. We’ve found two owl pellets, both of which showed strong evidence of mole remains. We’ve also found some rabbit parts. In May we started hearing baby sounds. This second week of June we finally saw them and they are fledgling. We think there are at least two owlets.
Barred Owl Family
We started hearing and seeing much more of two Barred Owls in March around the time the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. We’ve been clearing the woods of invasive ivy and holly trees with time at home. The owls have been watching us. They seem to enjoy having more open understory with holly trees going away and have more ground to hunt. We’ve found two owl pellets, both of which showed strong evidence of mole remains. We’ve also found some rabbit parts. In May we started hearing baby sounds. This second week of June we finally saw them and they are fledging. We think there are at least two owlets.
Barred Owl on Bluebird Box
This was the second visit by a Barred Owl to this nest box while it was inhabited by a nesting Eastern Bluerbird.
adult taking flight with juveniles visible in nest box
I just happened to be looking out the window when the adult flew up to drop off food and was able to grab my camera. Taken 04-18-19.
Nesting Barred Owl
Barred Owl Family
Our nest box was put up a little too late for the first year. I tried really hard to have it ready but I just didn’t finish in time for them to get used to it being in the area. Year 2 was a success!! We were starting to think we’d never get to see them use the nest box, but one day we saw something peeking out! You can see the entire build, story and galleries, here: https://tidehomes.com/melton-team-home-diy-projects/mr-mrs-barred-hootie/
Barred Owl in a Birch tree nesting
Female Barred Owl using an old Birch tree as her nest. She raised 3 Barred Owlets.
fledgling
Barred Owl Nestling
Barred Owl nestling in old Beech tree.