The affection between barn owls Gyflie & Finn was once indeniable. This pair have been inseparable, as to trustworthy to one another as they have been to their chicks. And this legacy lived on of their chicks, even after trustworthy owl dad Finn unfortunately died.
Securing a nest
The tale starts in January 2022 as those barn owls earch for the easiest nest. Feminine Gylfie dithers and the power mounts as kestrels and tawny owls start taking the most productive spots. Ultimately there’s just one possibility left, a nest field I madem from outdated elm tree stump.
Courtship
Regardless of being a longtime pair, this owl couple will have to renew their bonds, and their contemporary devotion is touching – Finn turns out reluctant to go away Gylfie’s facet.
Owl eggs
In Would possibly Gylfie lays her first egg, then one each and every two-to-three-days till she has 4. In contrast to some birds of prey, barn owl eggs are incubated once they’re laid and so Gylfie starts the lengthy procedure, while Finn brings her meals.
Chicks hatch
After a month of incubation, the primary chick hatches. Then some other two. One egg fails to hatch and Gylfie discards it. Chicks develop Because the chicks develop, their characters increase. Audience of this channel nickname them Freya, Griffin and Fern, from eldest to youngest. With 8 days between them there’s fairly a dimension distinction. As Freya grows, she turns into fairly fiesty, rudely snatching meals from her folks.
Drought
A heatwave moves and the nation-state briefly dries up. Water is scarce and the flora and fauna starts to hunt out animal water troughs within the surrounding farmland.
RIP Finn
When Finn doesn’t flip up sooner or later, I seek greater than 20 troughs and in finding him tragically drowned.
Supporting the owl circle of relatives
Now that Gylfie will have to handle the chicks by myself, I assist out with meals deliveries.
Chicks display affection
After their father dies, I understand an strange bond creating between the barn owl chicks. The place usually I might be expecting them to compete for meals, the trio start to percentage.
ID rings
At seven weeks, the chicks are tagged. Now it’ll be conceivable to track them via the remainder of their lives. Gylfie will get a brand new mate Because the chicks grow to be extra unbiased, I understand Gylfie spends extra time away. It’s quickly transparent she has a brand new mate. We test this male owls’ ID ring and uncover he’s a rescued owl who grew up right here at Fotherdale – along Finn!
Fledging
On the finish of July, Freya fledges the nest, adopted over the next weeks by way of Griffin and Fern. Freya, Griffin and Fern have come far since they have been tiny owls and feature had to triumph over the lack of their father. After the sort of get started, it’s so glorious to look at those chicks fly loose and powerful.