Unacceptable Rypstra
06 22 2021 Tttt (WS) One of Three
Over the holidays, I did manage to prepare, as promised, a short one and a half minute introductory video of the 'new' owl family: (A mother Barred Owl with her three owlets). It can be viewed at the following link: youtu.be/NhvW5AmrNoY
The mother is in the first clip, viewing the surroundings and eyeing some carrion. The following two clips show one of the nearby owlets giving a begging contact call. Wait till the end when it decides to walk down the branch.
It must be admitted that this opportunity came about by accidental baiting. A good friend of mine, who happens to work for ~3 local farmers to help rid them of crop pests, would come home and throw the dead invasive Gray Squirrels on his woodpile for the Ravens to dispose of. It was much to his surprise, when one day the Ravens were very upset because this large female Barred Owl came to inspect the situation. She became a regular visitor to his yard looking for free handouts, and he named her Gracie.
Then one morning he calls me and demands, "Come now!" I dropped what I was doing, grabbed the camera gear, my younger two children and raced over. Gracie had brought her three owlets to his yard.
I spent a wonderful couple hours enjoying the family before going to work. This was the only time the owlets came, and through this incident, we found out her nest that year was in a neighbour's backyard. We also discovered for the first time, that owls can indeed be interested in carrion.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs, etc. without my permission.
06 22 2021 Tttt (WS) One of Three
Over the holidays, I did manage to prepare, as promised, a short one and a half minute introductory video of the 'new' owl family: (A mother Barred Owl with her three owlets). It can be viewed at the following link: youtu.be/NhvW5AmrNoY
The mother is in the first clip, viewing the surroundings and eyeing some carrion. The following two clips show one of the nearby owlets giving a begging contact call. Wait till the end when it decides to walk down the branch.
It must be admitted that this opportunity came about by accidental baiting. A good friend of mine, who happens to work for ~3 local farmers to help rid them of crop pests, would come home and throw the dead invasive Gray Squirrels on his woodpile for the Ravens to dispose of. It was much to his surprise, when one day the Ravens were very upset because this large female Barred Owl came to inspect the situation. She became a regular visitor to his yard looking for free handouts, and he named her Gracie.
Then one morning he calls me and demands, "Come now!" I dropped what I was doing, grabbed the camera gear, my younger two children and raced over. Gracie had brought her three owlets to his yard.
I spent a wonderful couple hours enjoying the family before going to work. This was the only time the owlets came, and through this incident, we found out her nest that year was in a neighbour's backyard. We also discovered for the first time, that owls can indeed be interested in carrion.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs, etc. without my permission.