Potted Plant Owls are back in Johannesburg

[Dumpsterkitty]

OMG! This is their second clutch. The first failed & the homeowners removed the eggs...

Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Second nesting attempt for PPO
PPO is nesting again. She started with an egg last Monday, and a second egg on Wednesday. We half expected to find a third egg on Saturday, but it wasn't to be.

I'm not sure if these eggs will be viable. We noticed very little copulating and frantic activity which is usually evident at this stage of the pre-breeding season.

For the moment, we have decided not to turn the webcam back on, until we know for sure that there is a family with chicks to watch. A lesson that I have learned these past few months is that it is heart-breaking watching PPO sit faithfully on eggs that we all knew were not viable (and ended up not being fertilised). We will spare any angst and only switch the camera back on when the right time comes.

Will let you know what happens!

 

[Kris G.]

This is good news as they didn't think these would be viable either! PPO laid these eggs in a new pot plant that's close to the driveway and cars, according to their FB page!  Hope they'll all be safe!

[Donna]

Shaky, could you merge this with the Pot Plant Owl under the Raptor Web Cams. Thanks Sorry!

[Donna]

9 Dec: Family are doing well. Chicks only spotted briefly during the day, and at night when PPO left the nest. As soon as the balcony light was put on, PPO flew back to her chicks.

The webcam should go back up soon. I can't give a date / time as it is a technical issue and work needs to be done on it first

[Shaky]

Shaky, could you merge this with the Pot Plant Owl under the Raptor Web Cams. Thanks Sorry!

Done.

[Donna]

Look how cute!! 

from fb

[carla]

This is such Great news !
I followed them earlier this year and was very sad when
the eggs didn't hatch..
I knew they started egg laying for the second time,but didn't expect
the eggs were viable this time!
Nature is a miracle.
Thanks for posting !

                                                         

[Kris G.]

Look how cute!! 

from fb

 

[Dumpsterkitty]

The Africam link is working! Warning-cannot block ads there without paying...

http://www.africam.com/wildlife/lc_player_kim.php?sub=nn&ch=popup&sh=owl-1

[AlisonL]

The owlets are so cute!

Mom watching through the foliage:



A view of the owlets:

[Donna]

The wind howled around us last night as the rain fell. I thought of the chicks out there on the balcony and remembered that PPO is the most wonderful mother in the world. Just to reconfirm this fact to myself, I took a quick peak and there she was - wings spread out over her chicks offering them full protection from the elements. She is an amazing mother.
Pappa returned when the wind and rain subsided to deliver something delicious to his family.

http://youtu.be/nIv7Y_iaC3Q Welcome little owlettes!

[AlisonL]

A look at the owlets today . . .



 . . . until Mom came home.

[AlisonL]

The owlets a few minutes ago:

[Dumpsterkitty]

Thanks for the heads-up! I haven't been successful in seeing them in days...but I caught a few seconds before PPO got back.

[Donna]

PPO on her balcony...  Look at the fluffs!