|
Recent checks by Bob Sheppard and me have revealed that many Barn Owl young did not survive during the wet and windy conditions this last week. Possibly between a quarter and a third of owlets have perished due to their parents either being unable to go out hunting in wet conditions or being unable to find food during strong winds, as the movement of long grass in the wind makes it impossible to locate prey on movement below.
We are also getting a number of phone calls from observers finding young owlets wandering about on the ground below boxes where they have left the box in desperation after being abandoned by their parents. (........possibly a better option than staying in the box and being eaten by their starving parents !!, which we have also found on a few occasions today)
It's not just the very small owlets that are affected, as considerable mortality has occurred with chicks even up to 6/7 weeks old.
Alan
|
Login
FAQ
Search
