At the weekend we had Alan and Maurice, two experts, come to look inside our owl box. Alan, the man up the ladder, is a bird-ringer who went and opened the lid – inside was the female and two, maybe three young. They were too small to ring and he'll come back in about a month to do it.
Just as he was finishing up the female tried to do a runner out of the front door. Calm as you like Alan just picked her up and held her so Mrs H could get some pictures. Apparently Barn Owls are not vicious like Tawney Owls! In future when Mrs H is putting a fallen bird back in the nest I will no longer need to stand guard with a broom!
Matey, that's fantastic. i didn't think an owl would stay around once someone had opened the nesting box and handled the contents. The hen owl looks so docile in Alan's grip.
ReplyDeleteWe thought that too Matey. Apparently it's their strong motherly instinct!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely, thanks for the update :-)
ReplyDeleteMy, is it that time of year again?
ReplyDeleteThanks for this.
Always love your owl posts.
ReplyDeleteIs a bird ringer the English version of a bird tagger (did he put an id tag on the leg?)
ReplyDeleteYou two are lucky to have such fluffy and fun neighbors. Probably pretty quiet, too.
:)
How fortunate you are Richard, to have these owls taking up residence on your property, well continuing advantage of the splendid home you have provided for them.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone loves these beautiful birds and it is a pleasure to see your updates.
Yes, Rob he put the ID on their legs.
ReplyDelete