Barn owl pair It is Autumn and Gylfie & Dryer are in their second year together. Already caring for two chicks, Uno, and a foster chick named Lucky in Ash Stump, the pair are also already preparing for another brood.
Late double brood
It’s a sign that these owls are doing well and have enough food nearby, and energy to raise more young. In England, only 10% of barn owls will double brood in the same year, a strategy only used by barn owls and short-eared owls here in the UK.
Nest
Surprisingly, they choose Beech Stump for their new brood. This is a risky move as normally tawny owls Bomber and Luna raise their young here.
Egg laying
But as the barn owl parents’ two older chicks fledge, Gylfie lays her first egg and, whilst Dryer continues to supply food to the older owlets, Gylfie goes on to lay an incredible total of six eggs.
Chicks hatch
Barn owl chicks should hatch every 2 to 3 days but there is a five day gap between the first chick and the second and so I assume that two of the eggs failed. It means there is a nine day gap between the oldest and youngest chick.
Youngest chick perishes
With a gap this large the youngest cannot compete. Gylfie keeps standing on it and the eldest chick even pulls at it. Eventually it seems to disappear from the nest and I suspect the worst. It’s likely Gylfie has fed it to the other two chicks – a common practice among birds since it is a source of food and also avoids attracting predators.
Parent owls exhausted
But something is wrong. Gylfie begins to spend less and less time in the nest and Dryer no longer brings in much food. Also, Gylfie begins taking the food he does deliver.
Help
Helping isn’t easy. I can’t risk going to the nest, in case Gylfie flees, putting the two surviving chicks at even great risk, so, I decide to place supplementary food in nearby nests – enough for Gylfie, Dryer and the chicks.
ID rings & fledging
With my help, the owlets quickly regained weight and by six weeks are ready for their ID rings and shortly fledge.
Dispersal
Despite coming under attack from tawnys as they fledge, both chicks thrive and soon disperse to find territories of their own.
I am a British wildlife artist and filmmaker on a mission to share my love for wildlife with the world. As well as creating detailed animal film and art portraits, I promote wildlife tours around the world and do all I can to help conserve and protect wildlife here at my home in Yorkshire. I hope that by putting nature in the frame I can foster a deep love for wildlife amongst my followers.