May 20, 2013 (Tragedy in the owl box)

This morning the box was empty.  The mother and father owl where easily spotted in the trees.  Typically both are very well hidden. The mother visited the box often only to confirm her owlets were gone.  The box empty and the owlets nowhere to be found.

So what happened?  We log a still pic every ten minutes of the owl box (below) and they tell the story:

• 11:53PM: All is well.  Mother attending owlets.
• 01:03AM: Ringtail Cat invades the owl box.
• 01:13AM: It's over.

I would have thought the parent owls capable of holding off the Ringtail's assault.  Either they couldn't or were taken by surprise.

Nature makes it tough growing up as a Eastern Screech Owl.  Research show the morality rate at 70%.  Put another way, out of every 10 eggs laid only 3 will yield as an adult owl.  We are sad, but we gave the little guys the best chance we could.  In any event, the Ringtail ended our 2013 Owl Box Season. 

May 19, 2013

Breakfast lizard for two owlets. 

May 18, 2013 (First Hatch)

We think both owl eggs have hatched; hard to verify as the mother blocks the view. The father is providing routine food drops. All seems normal.

May 16, 2013

One owlet in the box.  One egg remains.

May 13, 2013

Owl sitting on eggs. All seems normal. Estimated hatch date is May 20. 

April 29, 2013

The mother owls takes a daytime break to enjoy the view. (pic)

April 26, 2013

Owl box with two eggs. Seconds later mom swoops into the box. (2 pics)

April 26, 2013

Bye, Bye, Birdie (Titmouse)

Three pics taken at 10 minute intervals.
3:37PM. Mom to Chick "You must leave now and see the world"
3:47PM. Chick takes a few last looks at the four unhatched eggs and one dead sibling.
3:57PM. Chick heads for freedom.  The box is void of life.

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We are switching the camera over to the Owl Box!

April 26, 2013

Titmouse mother feeds last surviving chick. (pic)

April 25, 2013

Titmouse update:
Of the 6 eggs, 2 hatched.
One of the chicks looks great.
One chick recently died. (pic)
The mother continues regular food drops.

Owl box update:
Mother owl is attending to 2 eggs.

April 23, 2013

The two titmouse chicks are progressing as expected.

The owl remains in the box tending to her eggs.

April 20, 2013 (First Egg Spotting)

Two owl eggs.

April 19, 2013

Two pics and some news...

The two titmouse chicks are doing fine. The other four eggs will not hatch.

Two eggs were discovered in the owl box last night!

April 15, 2013

Still only two chicks.

April 14, 2013

Mother titmouse watches two chicks.
Also note small wings on chick.

April 11, 2013

Two hatch.

April 8, 2013

Still six eggs still. In the Titmouse box.
No new owl box activity.

April 5, 2013

Not hatchling yet (Titmouse box).

April 3, 2013

Owl sitting in box pic.
Still six unhatched eggs in Titmouse box.

April 2, 2013

An owl was spotted in the owl box today. No eggs, etc. we think it could be a male that took to the box for shelter from the heavy thunderstorms.

The Titmouse is still tending to her six eggs. We expect first hatching this week.

March 29, 2013

Titmouse eggs hatch date estimated for around April 4th.

March 27, 2013

Six eggs in the Titmouse box.

March 27, 2013

Five eggs.

March 24, 2013

Two Titmouse eggs. She covers them when she leaves the box.

March 23, 2013

Covers egg. Leaves nest.

March 23, 2013

Titmouse. One egg seen.

March 18, 2013

March 16, 2013

These two danced around in the box for about two hours.

March 15, 2013

We are losing hope with getting a owl this year.  We have been hearing Screech Owls to the East, but still no new activity in the box.  We switch the monitor to one installed in a finch box and saw this:

So, we will keep the camera on the finch box for a few days.

March 1, 2013

Finally.... An owl checks out the box and hopefully starts out the 2013 season.  Two pics with timestamps below:

January 30, 2013

No owl activity.  Haven't even heard any Screech Owls this year.  Hoot Owls are heard every night/morning to the East.  A Cooper's Hawk has also been seen paroling the area.

The web cam did pick up a quick visit from a Ringtail Cat. You can see the tail in the pic below: