3rd June 2011

The owner of the nest box has been making regular observations and has noticed that the cock bird is not working very hard to bring prey. Normally the female only begins to hunt after the chicks are 16 days old. However, from last week, she had to leave the youngest at just 11 days old to find food. Her mate needs to up his game if they are ever to raise more than 3 chicks in the future. The ability and inclination of the male to hunt is thought to be the second most important factor in the success of a brood of Barn Owl chicks. The first , of couse, is abundance of field voles as prey.
This is just after 9-30 pm and she is out hunting!