Barred Owls Nesting Again!

14 years ago

I've had Barred Owls to nest in an old tree in my backyard for about seven years now. Earlier last month I saw squirrels taking building materials into the cavity that the owls would normally use and was discouraged. However, a couple of weeks ago I noticed the nesting material was missing from the entrance of the nesting site and today I actually saw Mama Owl in the nest so she evicted the squirrels and will give me a wonderful Spring show once again!!! Happy Day!!!

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Comments (17)

prairie_love
14 years ago
That is so cool! I have barred owls in my woods, but have never found their nesting site - it is probably across the river and not on my property. Can you post photos of the nest? I would love to see it!
sowngrow (8a)
14 years ago
How exciting! Be sure to post pictures. I've got Eastern Screech owls nesting in my nestbox for the first time. I'm looking forward to seeing the owlets in March or April.
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Never mind! I copied and pasted FAQ's in case someone else thinks the same thing I did----it's infrared light and doesn't bother her. Guess I can go to sleep now. Listen, I know I fly off the handle--nothing new----it's just that I CARE---with all my heart, I CARE. Ask Little White-Foot Mouse who lives in the woodpile on the deck, just outside the window. Right now she's getting up dropped seed from the feeder---she knows I see her, but she goes on with her work. I respect her work ethic. ************************* What kind of cameras and lighting are used? The cameras are Logitech Orbit AF (daytime) and Agama V-1325 R (infrared, nighttime). There are 4 infrared (IR) LEDs on the camera that are invisible to owls and humans, but allow the camera to pick up an image we can see at night. There is also ambient light from the neighborhood that comes into the box at night. Is this camera hardwired, battery operated, or solar powered? ItÂs hardwired. Can the night cam zoom in? No, only the daytime camera has zoom and is height-adjustable. The infrared camera is positioned lower and gives a different view of the nest. Does the light at night annoy Molly? There is some ambient light from the neighborhood, but there are no extra lights used at night. Molly doesnÂt seem to mind. Are the cameras actually inside the box? No, they are attached to the exterior of the house with a protective cover.
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I've had a pair of Barred Owls nesting in my backyard for eight years now. I used to have lots of pictures on here from previous years nests but they have been removed over time. However, here is a picture of mama owl sitting in the nest this year while there were eggs or tiny young in there. Now she sits on a limb of another tree guarding her nest of young. (I saw a little one peeking out at me yesterday while I was in the yard). As you can see, the nest site is in a large tree that lost a limb many years ago and this resulted in a large cavity in that spot. What you are describing of the owl sitting in one spot tells me that her nest is nearby and that young ones are in the nest. Check all the big trees you have closely near where she is sitting and maybe you will find what she is guarding. Good luck and keep us posted if you find the nest!!
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I don't know how deep the nest actually is because I can't get up into that tree. From what I've been able to see, however, it appears that they are really exposed to the weather more than I ever expected them to like for nesting. There was once a very large limb that broke from this tree and eventually it developed into this large cavity. You can still see some of the limb at the top of the nest site. That area of the tree has really deteriorated over the last few years and I worry that it will soon be too open for the owls to continue to nest there. The tree is slowly dying and is losing limbs every year. Many sections of the tree have holes in it made by Pileated Woodpeckers. Squirrels and birds fly into one hole and out another hole in another section of the tree. Definitely hollow spaces in there. I've been contemplating making a nest box and mounting up that tree in that nest area for next year. I'm just not sure what to do. I've watched them nest there every year since 2003 and I would truly miss them. I want to offer a nest box but at the same time I don't want to spook them away from the site they have used for so long. Here is an image from 2003 when the young were leaving the nest and the tree is full of foliage.
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judyg53
Original Author
14 years ago
I took a picture of the nest and you can see Mama Owl sitting in there! Here she is....

2010 Barred Owl Mama at Nest
{{!gwi}}
rachel_frome_ky
14 years ago
Awesome!! Thanks!
prairie_love
14 years ago
That's very cool. I love the way her eyes are peering out. Thanks for posting!
sowngrow (8a)
14 years ago
Cool! What type of tree is it that she's in?
judyg53
Original Author
14 years ago
It is an old Beech tree. Part of the tree is dying off and I worry about the nest site in upcoming years. You can see the last of the dead limb that sheltered the nest somewhat in previous years. I've thought that possibly I should make some sort of structure to have built onto the tree and would canopy the nest somewhat. I would also have a camera installed in it as well. A skilled tree person would have to do it due to the height of the tree. Any suggestions?
sowngrow (8a)
14 years ago
Since barred owls use nest boxes, I imagine one could be put up on your tree with proper reinforcement to keep it in place, after nesting season. I know the boxes are larger than the E. Screech Owl box we put up in our tree and I agree if that nest is up high it's best to use a skilled tree person. Not far from me, there was a barred owl nesting in a snag and weather deteriorated it to the point the owls found another tree nearby. The original nest was along a walkway in a park. I haven't found the new nest, but I have seen the owls at dusk and hear them.
judyg53
Original Author
14 years ago
It just occurred to me that I have posted this thread to the wrong forum. I don't know how to actually move a thread so I will start a new one on the Raptors forum and post any updates there.

Judy
sowngrow (8a)
14 years ago
Judy - A lot of people do post raptor sightings on this forum. The raptor forum moves really slowly so I don't kow why there's a seperate forum for raptors. There doesn't seem to be a need for it.
judyg53
Original Author
14 years ago
I agree about the Raptors forum. I may just keep any updates on this thread/forum afterall.
prairie_love
14 years ago
I know that several of us here (myself for sure!) would love to hear updates and I never look at the raptors forum (in fact, I didn't know there is one). So please post here!
bandjzmom
14 years ago
Wow. That is sooooo cool! I think that I have seen one owl in the wild in my lifetime. Is that hole as large as it looks in the picture, or is it shadowing I am seeing? I sure wish I had a nesting owl. Lucky you!!! Please do keep us posted.
judyg53
Original Author
14 years ago
bandjzmom - I saw your post on the Raptor Forum so I was glad to see you found this one as well. I've answered the hole question over there but have now closed that thread because this forum seems to be the better traveled/viewed. Sorry to confuse. :)
bandjzmom
14 years ago
Thanks Judy. I did figure it out finally! I am new here, and I'm still trying to figure things out. I haven't even figured out how to add a pic inside a post yet. I'm still learning.
judyg53
Original Author
14 years ago
It appears there is only one baby owl this year and here he/she is! I'm expecting this one to leave the nest site within the next week, two at the most.
sowngrow (8a)
14 years ago
Awww-that's a good size baby!

Barred Owls Nesting Again!

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