21st CENTURY BIRD WATCHING VIA VIDEO CAMS
Watching these nests I noticed how much room the young owlets need once they are ready to start moving around more with their jumping, taloning nesting pellet material and wing flapping behavior. The small boxes don’t allow for much movement at all, just simple wing spread/stretch that most times is getting impinged from the sides, roof and siblings.
Also noted is that in the heat of the day the owlets lay down, stretch out and pant to cool their selves. In the smaller nests it isn’t possible to do that and another big factor is no air circulation to help cool and the addition of the siblings body heat must make it miserable to endure the afternoons until the sun goes down to give them much needed relief which brings me to another point about ventilation.
Simply slapping a wooden box together does not make a safe or comfortable nest, there has to be some kind of significant air flow and drainage provided because if there isn’t then there is a great possibility for
heat exhaustion, bacteria multiplying and other problems developing from stagnate air, decaying prey, pellets and poop (which BTW in avians is a combination of urine and feces).
More research regarding the "perfect" nest box, I found info about a "Roosting Room". A roosting room for the parents to perch in during the day while the young occupy the nesting area. This room usually has the same size opening as the main cavity, and is crossed with perches with 14 inches or so of head space. No floor is recommended for this room so as to permit castings and fecal material to fall to the ground. I found this info in a site that talks about using Barn Owls for Rodent control and think this is an excellent option to add to the Barn Owl nest box. Besides being a place for the parents to roost during the day it would also be ideal for the young owlets to use before fledgling to get a good picture and idea of what the real world has to offer like nothing under your feet. Just a thought but I think worth mentioning and worth doing in agricultural or other places where there isn't a lot of perching opportunities. This also provides a place for hiding when there are predators around to.
There are laws against leaving pets in closed vehicles, etc., but nothing to protect the wildlife and little lives that are depending on us using our brains. In open nests in trees the babies by instinct raise their little behinds up and all most over the side of the nest to excrete keeping the nest clean. That isn’t the case in these enclosed nest boxes and I have been so fortunate to know how bad they can smell.
Watching these nests I noticed how much room the young owlets need once they are ready to start moving around more with their jumping, taloning nesting pellet material and wing flapping behavior. The small boxes don’t allow for much movement at all, just simple wing spread/stretch that most times is getting impinged from the sides, roof and siblings.
Also noted is that in the heat of the day the owlets lay down, stretch out and pant to cool their selves. In the smaller nests it isn’t possible to do that and another big factor is no air circulation to help cool and the addition of the siblings body heat must make it miserable to endure the afternoons until the sun goes down to give them much needed relief which brings me to another point about ventilation.
Simply slapping a wooden box together does not make a safe or comfortable nest, there has to be some kind of significant air flow and drainage provided because if there isn’t then there is a great possibility for
heat exhaustion, bacteria multiplying and other problems developing from stagnate air, decaying prey, pellets and poop (which BTW in avians is a combination of urine and feces).
More research regarding the "perfect" nest box, I found info about a "Roosting Room". A roosting room for the parents to perch in during the day while the young occupy the nesting area. This room usually has the same size opening as the main cavity, and is crossed with perches with 14 inches or so of head space. No floor is recommended for this room so as to permit castings and fecal material to fall to the ground. I found this info in a site that talks about using Barn Owls for Rodent control and think this is an excellent option to add to the Barn Owl nest box. Besides being a place for the parents to roost during the day it would also be ideal for the young owlets to use before fledgling to get a good picture and idea of what the real world has to offer like nothing under your feet. Just a thought but I think worth mentioning and worth doing in agricultural or other places where there isn't a lot of perching opportunities. This also provides a place for hiding when there are predators around to.
There are laws against leaving pets in closed vehicles, etc., but nothing to protect the wildlife and little lives that are depending on us using our brains. In open nests in trees the babies by instinct raise their little behinds up and all most over the side of the nest to excrete keeping the nest clean. That isn’t the case in these enclosed nest boxes and I have been so fortunate to know how bad they can smell.
Mel & Syd, a Love Story
What a wonderful happening for not just the Barn Owls but in my opinion for all wildlife as many people developed a renewed interest in "wildlife" and "Bird Watching".
I stumbled upon this nest after a friend sent me the link and found this to be the best nest. Here the nest owner designed a "state of the art" nest box that is bigger then several others that are on line and also has HD which makes the viewing spectacular! "Kanga" the nest box owner has set up a very unique watching experience with multiple cams showing different angels outside the nest box.
Currently I am putting together a page that shows how we were able to help "Kanga" finish raising 2 owlets the year both parents were lost early on in the season. This unique remote method successfully taught these owlets how to hunt and kill so that they needed no human contact to survive to be free birds. This changes how we are able to rehab baby birds with out any need for humans to remove them from their territory.
This is a nest to watch and really get an great view of the inner life of a Barn Owl family! Happy watching!
What a wonderful happening for not just the Barn Owls but in my opinion for all wildlife as many people developed a renewed interest in "wildlife" and "Bird Watching".
I stumbled upon this nest after a friend sent me the link and found this to be the best nest. Here the nest owner designed a "state of the art" nest box that is bigger then several others that are on line and also has HD which makes the viewing spectacular! "Kanga" the nest box owner has set up a very unique watching experience with multiple cams showing different angels outside the nest box.
Currently I am putting together a page that shows how we were able to help "Kanga" finish raising 2 owlets the year both parents were lost early on in the season. This unique remote method successfully taught these owlets how to hunt and kill so that they needed no human contact to survive to be free birds. This changes how we are able to rehab baby birds with out any need for humans to remove them from their territory.
This is a nest to watch and really get an great view of the inner life of a Barn Owl family! Happy watching!
Decorah Bald Eagles
I am proud to say that the first year this nest was up on Ustream I had the honor of being a Lead Moderator and share my knowledge with chatters. My screen name is "EagleEye_", maybe I'll see you there some time.
Sign up for chat | Guidelines & Mods | Pop video | Enter Prey in the Prey Log | Prey Report
The 2018/2019 schedule for main chat is: After first egg: 8-11 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. After first hatch: 8-10 a.m., 1-3 p.m., 6-8 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday 6-9 p.m.). To support us, follow this link: Donate to RRP. To see who’s watching with you, view the Visitor Map!
Sign up for chat | Guidelines & Mods | Pop video | Enter Prey in the Prey Log | Prey Report
The 2018/2019 schedule for main chat is: After first egg: 8-11 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. After first hatch: 8-10 a.m., 1-3 p.m., 6-8 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday 6-9 p.m.). To support us, follow this link: Donate to RRP. To see who’s watching with you, view the Visitor Map!
Owliver & Owlivia, old Married Couple
These 2 are a very experienced couple that have a nest overlooking a beautiful canyon. Caretakers, (box owners) have a wonderful web site set up so you can go there and read all about 2010 nesting, the nest box, surrounding area and the owner is a fantastic artist so be sure to check out her talent!!
What a Wonderful World we live in now, bird watching use to consist of sitting in the outdoor elements in the middle of no where with no facilities, at the mercy of the weather and mother nature with binoculars and a field guide. This is a wonderful experience and some thing that can give us a wonderful view into the intimate lives of our wildlife.
These 2 are a very experienced couple that have a nest overlooking a beautiful canyon. Caretakers, (box owners) have a wonderful web site set up so you can go there and read all about 2010 nesting, the nest box, surrounding area and the owner is a fantastic artist so be sure to check out her talent!!
What a Wonderful World we live in now, bird watching use to consist of sitting in the outdoor elements in the middle of no where with no facilities, at the mercy of the weather and mother nature with binoculars and a field guide. This is a wonderful experience and some thing that can give us a wonderful view into the intimate lives of our wildlife.