Noisy twins!

http://youtu.be/LWBvVG4lUrU

This has been a rough week

Sure has, Jeanne. 

This has been posted on their website about the present situation. The dad is gone (probably as a result of a predator) leaving mom with 5 chicks (the youngest died within the last couple days). Sad situation for this young family. 

Audubon Starr Ranch Barn Owls
For those who have contacted the Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital/OC Bird of Prey Center please know that Starr Ranch has had a relationship with them and other professional raptor biologists for more than 20 years where together we’re doing as much as we can for raptors and raptor habitat protection. Here’s what SA+BH has to say about the current situation and I agree with their assessment:

“At present, we [Starr Ranch] are trying to provide adequate food for the remaining parent to feed the babies (not an easy feat since the nest is not readily accessible and the weather has been rough here) while field biologists are searching for nests with similar aged babies to foster. Hopefully, some of the babies will survive long enough to be transferred into an appropriate nest and fledge normally with foster parents. Removing and hand rearing the babies is not a viable option, since the babies will most likely become permanently imprinted (socialized to people) and non-releasable. They would then have to be found legal and proper housing for the rest of their lives (which can be more than 1 or 2 decades).�

I, along with several other field biologists, have already been working very hard to find another BNOW nest where some if not all of these chicks can be fostered. However, keep in mind that if we are fortunate to find a nest it cannot be one that already has a full clutch of even 4 – adding 4-5 more chicks to that would place the survival of all chicks in jeopardy.

I would like to ask that we all try to confine our comments to observations and that opinions and chat about what should be done be held. I think you all know by now that I don’t censor many comments at all on this site and I’m reluctant to start. As long as comments are respectful of others and contribute to our knowledge and understanding of these BNOWs, they’ll be allowed.

Last, the supplemental food I’ve provided these last two nights is something I’m extremely reluctant to do, notwithstanding it’s not that easy to do. Those who have been watching for the last few years know that I have said numerous times that I would not intervene – the only difference between this nest and ten’s of thousands of other nests is that we get to watch. And in this case we’re seeing what can happen when things don’t go as smoothly as we would like them to; the key word here is “we�. BNOWs and all other wildlife routinely deal with these kinds of scenarios and get though them just fine – even when death is part of the equation. I would also add that there’s a distinction between intervention and interaction. When I clean a lens, band the chicks, etc. I’m interacting with them in a way that is known to be nothing more than a short change in their routine that has no lasting affect on their overall behavior. Intervention, such as supplemental feeding, changes the outcome of their lives and affects not only them but other BNOWs and wildlife in the area. Please take a moment to consider that the death of an individual chick, and adult, or an entire clutch just might be what’s supposed to happen as part of the bigger picture.

Thanks you all for your comments, even when at times we might not agree. And those choosing to support us, an additional thanks. I’m really trying to do the best I can. Pete

Wonderful news!  Thanks! 

My time 5:44 for 48 piece classic.  Pretty pic, Aafke!

Mobile device users, I have news for you. The Rfalconcam Forum is now accessible viaTapatalk.

If you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Blackberry, or Android device, and you want to access the Rfalconcam Forum from an app rather than through your device's web browser, you can download Tapatalk from the iTunes app store or Android market. The price is $2.99. Once the app is installed, run it and search for Rfalconcam.  Then log in with your Forum username.

Saw that the other day! I think I'll give it a try!

Several times yesterday when I logged on, it would say the rfalconcam Forum was now available on Tapatalk for my iPad.  Bought it today but haven't had a chance to look at it yet.

Thanks for the update, Donna!

That was so cute!

It's with sad news that I have to report this. I received a call from Beth at Wildlife Works in Pa. Callidora had to be Euthanized last evening with a severely injured wing. There was nothing anyone could do. There will be full details on Imprints soon.

This was the saddest news. Rest in Peace little girl. God Bless the ones who rescued her.

  Thank you Donna for finding the rehabber and getting this most important information out to all of us!  

Yes, I also thank Donna for doing all she did to get the information about Callidora.

Still working on getting the details.  I don't think anyone knows exactly what happened to her. 

OK, thanks, Carol.

She looks great in that video!  Thanks, Donna!

Do we have anymore details on what happened? Hit by car, truck? When will the full report be posted on Imprints?

Poor S2-she's been through way too much because of some jerk.  Thanks for the update, Alison.

Sad news  from BCAW-

It appears that Daddy O from Starr Ranch has been missing, last seen 9pm thursday. BEANS - this may very well be the last video of him bringing treats to the Mrs. Everyone is upset, Pete went up Sat night 10:40 pm or so and put some mice in the nest, against his own beliefs to let nature take course, but stated that if things were not going well, might turn off cameras this am. The cams are still on, mom went hunting also during the night. But she will not be able to handle feeding 6. Viewers asking to take 2 or 3 of the smallest to rehabbers. The policy in the past is not to interfere, so in view of impending deaths of the owlets, he may turn off the cams and resume when mom acquires a new mate. How sad, I have wonderful videos from over the years of Daddy O with the Mrs, playing tug of war with prey, getting literally kicked out of the nest by the Mrs during a spat, bonding with her, whispering sweet nothings to her, and chittering and chattering back and forth between them both. Pete said at this point he is concerned something HAS happened to Daddy O. We have been holding out hope for his return, as he went awol just at the same time mom saw oldest two swallowing prey whole, which is always a signal she is going to hunt now too. So at first I thought Dad was just "no longer in the nest" because it was his usual time to move out and keep hunting and doing "throw and go" deliveries. Apparently, not so, he is truly awol. This past week there were many "hearings" of GHO's near the nest area all throughout the week.

               

Jewel is a mommy!  This video is the first birth at 7:24 this morning!  A second cub was born at 8:40!

Jewel has cub #1 yeah!!! Jan22, 2012

It's spooky how much the cry sounds like a human baby...

You beat me, Ei-was just going to post this!  This is also the day Hope was born on.