Every cloud has a silver lining.........

Towards the end of last month viewing of the local Barn Owls was excellent, but there was a sad side to these daily sightings. The harsh weather conditions made it extremely difficult for these birds to locate their prey as they scurried around under a couple of inches of snow. Consequently the owls were forced out into daytime hunting because they were starving. Although the weather has now improved somewhat and the hunting conditions are much improve it is only now that the mortality rates are becoming known.

 

But as they say life must go on and how true that saying is today! Luckily the Barn Owls that we monitor via our barn & nest box camera survived the bitter weather and yesterday the hen bird laid her first egg!

This image below is a screen shot from the video footage and the first egg can clearly been seen.

 

Last year this pair had two broods and successfully raised 7 youngsters, considering resent events and the loss of local birds (due to the weather) it is vitally important that they have a good breeding year and contribute to getting the numbers back up.

 

Here's to wishing them well!