MISC BARN OWLS~2011

theharrishawkmademe · **Joined:** Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:06 pm **Posts:** 21

No problem, hopefully somebody can do something. If anything figure out what may have happened to parents, right now I'm on a count of 5 in the nest still alive but they are all over right now, older ones looking to be bullying smaller ones now :( so an accurate count is not totally possible

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:12 pm

The last picture I have seen of an adult being there is April 15th PattO got it

theharrishawkmademe · **Joined:** Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:06 pm **Posts:** 21

Well babes are obviously hungry they have started to attack the body of the other owl.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63611

theharrishawkmademe wrote:

I don't think so, I'm pretty sure it is one of those "let mother nature take its course" situations but I did email a couple of the emails listed on the site just as a precaution. didn't know exactly which one to use so I just messaged a couple of them. I want to keep checking the cam to see if mom or dad show but at the asme time I'm starting to get that sinking feeling that we are sort of watching the babes and a possible slow demise.

Oh dear...and I had just come to post a pic...last time there was a problem at this nest (several years ago) they did take a hands off approach...caused quite the rage and upcry...I remember sending emails and just being furious...let's hope if something is wrong here, that they will not take that same approach...I didn't realize that when I took this pic a few minutes ago, that he/she was "dining" on the youngest...too sad...

PeSSouZiX · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:28 pm

theharrishawkmademe wrote:

Well babes are obviously hungry they have started to attack the body of the other owl.

yes, I see that too.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63611

I'm gonna go look for email addresses as well...

I did check in on a few other nests...and what a difference..not only in the ages of the owls, but the approaches the owners of these boxes take when a nest is in crisis...they have no problem rescuing the babies if they need to. They just did that at the Oak Creek Barn Owl nest when it was apparent the Dad was missing and mom just couldn't handle the surviving babies alone...Wildlife managed to save 2 of the owlets...

Owlivia~4..very close to fledging...

Oceanside~Mel and Sydney~ 5 in the box

Nicasio 4 in the box as best I could tell..

Lucy and Ricky~3 growing babies

Bonnie and clyde...no pic, 4 surviving hatches...they've been leaving the box at night and Jessie died unexpectantly last night and nobody is really sure why..

Beth · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:40 pm

SgB is right - this nest *WA Barn Owls* has a history of "nature will take its course" hands-off policy.
Very hard to watch this cam after that year.
I will hope for the best outcome...

theharrishawkmademe · **Joined:** Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:06 pm **Posts:** 21

Beth wrote:

SgB is right - this nest has a history of "nature will take its course" hands-off policy.
Very hard to watch this cam after that year.
I can only hope for the best and be ready to bail if you need to...

That is basically what I am doing, it's a bit hard to watch even at this point, keep hoping mom or dad suddenly show up. But I don't think we are that lucky at this point, would be interesting though to figure out what obviously occurred with mom and/or dad, especially if there has been past issues at this site

PeSSouZiX · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:12 pm

In the foreground, I see the remains of a second dead chick.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63611

From their webpage...I guess this pretty much says it all...

I'm still going to send an email

When we set up cameras to capture actual real-time images, we get whatever it is that nature hands out. It is a risk we take. Many times, it is a positive experience for everyone, as we watch young animals grow and mature. At other times, it is not so pleasant. But if we want to show our majestic wildlife to the world, it is important that we understand they also face risks from many directions.

When we established the WildWatchCam program, we anticipated that at some time the view might be unpleasant for some. We consulted with many biologists, and their advice was “once the birds start nesting, the risks to the chicks are far greater if a human intervenes than if we don’t.” So that is our operating philosophy. Once the birds begin the nesting process, we are done until all young have fledged and the adults move on. We don’t adjust cameras that get knocked out of alignment; we don’t clean cameras that get splattered by rain or feces; and we don’t interfere with what nature dishes out. But we do get to learn about the life and death struggles that occur out of our windows.

PeSSouZiX · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:40 pm

I understand this "hands off" approach ... but then, what sort of "natural" causes could explain that the two parents can't feed their youngs ?

theharrishawkmademe · **Joined:** Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:06 pm **Posts:** 21

I was also speaking with my mother (she has occasionally rehabbed being in the falconry group that my father is in) and she was saying that we could also possibly contact Sarvey, they are one of the bigger rehabbers in our state, Washington, that takes many birds of prey in. They may have some form of idea on what to do, etc. http://www.sarveywildlife.org/ContactUs.aspx

theharrishawkmademe · **Joined:** Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:06 pm **Posts:** 21

skygirlblue wrote:

From their webpage...I guess this pretty much says it all...

I'm still going to send an email

When we set up cameras to capture actual real-time images, we get whatever it is that nature hands out. It is a risk we take. Many times, it is a positive experience for everyone, as we watch young animals grow and mature. At other times, it is not so pleasant. But if we want to show our majestic wildlife to the world, it is important that we understand they also face risks from many directions.

When we established the WildWatchCam program, we anticipated that at some time the view might be unpleasant for some. We consulted with many biologists, and their advice was “once the birds start nesting, the risks to the chicks are far greater if a human intervenes than if we don’t.” So that is our operating philosophy. Once the birds begin the nesting process, we are done until all young have fledged and the adults move on. We don’t adjust cameras that get knocked out of alignment; we don’t clean cameras that get splattered by rain or feces; and we don’t interfere with what nature dishes out. But we do get to learn about the life and death struggles that occur out of our windows.

Hasn't stopped me either, if this has happened in the same nest before somebody needs to figure out what is up with this nest so we stop losing Barn Owls. I'm not sure what the recent figures are in Washington state for Barn Owl populace but I know we have had a recent influx of bald eagles and I know territory for hunting is becoming sparse..

theharrishawkmademe · **Joined:** Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:06 pm **Posts:** 21

Sarveys reply:

Hi Amanda,

Do you know the specific location of the nest? I will notify the Department of Fish and Wildlife here and see what can be done. Thank you for being so diligent on behalf of the barn owls.

Leslie

theharrishawkmademe · **Joined:** Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:06 pm **Posts:** 21

Feel like I"m posting tons but just want to keep everyone updated: Sarvey has contacted the state we will see what the state game does, they have also extended their hand to be willing to rehab the remaining owls.

Hi Amanda,

I understand completely, although on one hand it is a good, if some what gruesome, example of what can happen in the wild. I have already contacted my State Fish and Wildlife representative to see what can be done and have already extended our willingness to take the remaining babies.

I really appreciate you contacting me though, otherwise it is possible that the State agency may not have ever been made aware. Just to alleviate concerns, they only have one barn owl nest cam so they will not have to search for it.

Thank you again,
Leslie

kittenface · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:23 pm

theharrishawkmademe
You can never post to much and thank you so much for all you are doing and letting us know whats going on
it is great that your friend is trying to get something done even if it comes down to nothing being done no one can ever say YOU did try
Thanks again

PattiO · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:34 pm

I was unaware of what was going on here..... still reading through posts. I haven't been on the forum too much the last few days. I have been watching the Owls though and was thinking this evening that it seemed there were more of them a day or two ago.... I see why now.

The email I always use is something like ... wildthing@ .... BUT, I also just found an email I received from Chuck Gibilisco ... He is the WildWatchCam Coordinator. His email is ... Charles.Gibilisco @ dfw.wa.gov ... take out the spaces, of course. I don't like typing peoples emails directly in posts.

But ... as was said ... they have always taken a hands-off approach. The last time I think they decided the box was ... what's the word ... dirty, infected ... ?? They cleaned it all out after that and disinfected it.

I'm going to go check my pics for the last one I have of an adult.

PattiO · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:41 pm

Well ... I guess those were the last pics I took ... on the 15th. Didn't seem to be any problems that evening.

I sent Chuck an email ... just inquiring if he knows what's going on. I don't know if he'll get back to me or not. I hate to see them die like this .... they were doing so well!! And 6 of them yet!!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63611

Thanks PattiO...

I'm gonna send an email to that address...I have nothing to lose..

theharrishawkmademe · **Joined:** Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:06 pm **Posts:** 21

Thanks PattiO I will add that one to my email list. Does anyone care to share what exactly happened during the last problems?

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