Thursday, July 03, 2008

Havering On Springwatch Update

There's good news and bad news on the baby owl front. Two have died. Both were on the ground having left the nest. Owls have there young at different times so these were the first born. The good news is we still have two left, one is out the nest and the other is still in it. According to the local gamekeeper it seems like they've not had enough food and that's why the older birds have died. Mrs H. picked up the dead owls and says they are both very thin. The picture below is of the bird that virtually fell off the nest platform about an hour ago. Now we're keeping a look out for the adult birds who will hopefully bring some food back pretty soon. As I uploaded the photograph an adult owl arrived back, hopefully with some food.
UPDATE
Mrs. H. read up that if the owlets fall out the nest they're a goner as the parents stop feeding them, which is obviously why it was trying to get back....
The only thing to do was to get the owl back in the box. Owls are known to attack people getting too near their nest so we waited until we were sure that the coast was clear and put a ladder up. Mrs. H got the owlet and I stood guard with a broom ready to beat off any attack. The owlet is back, safe, in the box!

Scroll down for earlier posts

9 comments:

Uncle Dick Madeley said...

Admit it. This is a blatant attempt to lure the Lesser Breasted Nige to your garden. And I say it will never work. Never.

Richard Havers said...

It wouldn't take much, us Carshalton boys tend to stick together....

r morris said...

An exciting rescue! Now, the big question will be, will the mother accept it back after it has had human contact.
Keep us posted.

James Higham said...

Most evocative, Richard and I'm going to refer to this now over my way.

Sort of represents the way we should wind down and observe nature, possibly caring for it too.

CherryPie said...

That was an adventurous rescue. I love the pictures :-)

Anonymous said...

Rob, apparently the adults don't reject an owlet put back in the nest. It would be a problem if that was the only owlet and the nest was empty for a while, as it would break the adults feeding cycle. We have certainly been on a learning curve about owls and there young. Hopefully next year both of us and the parents will be more experienced.

jmb said...

It is really hard not to interfere in these things, although they always tell you not to do it. However I'm glad you did. They are so gorgeous.

r morris said...

Sounds like you did the right thing, Mrs. H. I know nothing owls, so my observations were anything but expert. :)

Richard Havers said...

Rob, at the end of this we'll all be experts!