Dead owl chick

snake · #1 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 10:23 PM

Many years ago we put up an owl box at the end of an old barn.
It was used by the Barn Owls almost from day one and there have been many owls reared in this box.
Yesterday when I walked past I was horrified to see a young owl lying dead directly beneath the box. I picked it up and it was painfully thin but no obvious marks. I guess that there could be one of many reasons why the young fella died. Such a shame.

On a happier note, our resident Little owl was out sunning himself today.
He is normally very shy and flies off if you get to close to him but today he was a little more obliging.
I found him sitting on a fence post being mobbed by the swallows and managed a few long shots before he went and hid in the eaves of the barn.

MrLouKnee · #2 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 10:36 PM

HI snake nice pics except the one of the dead chick

have the swallows got a nest near by?

Phoebe · #3 (**permalink**) 20-08-2009, 10:41 PM

Such a shame about the owl chick.

The Little Owl is gorgeous and a brilliant photo as usual, thanks for sharing

Gill Catton · #4 (**permalink**) 21-08-2009, 08:28 AM

barn owl parents have to find 5 voles per chick per day - its a tough call and the chicks are usually only able to survive 2-3 days without food. Also as they get older they can sometimes fall out of the box - particularly if food is short because they come to the box opening to be first to catch the in coming parent.

Could a chick have fallen out ? Sometimes its worth putting a shelf up below the hole if its relatively easy for a chick to fall. Or possibly an adult has been killed - not a huge amout you can do there...