Sunday, February 28, 2010

The Owl Box



The owl box is located in our backyard in San Marcos, CA and is 15 feet off the ground. She appears to be a first time mom. The owl is about 14 inches tall. She laid her first egg on February 13th. We are expecting owlets around mid to late March. Incubation is 30 to 34 days. owlets will hatch in order laid. Not all at one time like chickens.

The male has a white chest and face. He usually shows up after dark but has spent an entire day with the female. We have named the female Molly and the male McGee. The Barn Owl is widespread but usually a scarce species. They are strictly nocturnal and rarely observed in flight during daylight hours.

The owl house is located on a 15 foot pole and there is a tree just outside the opening. The box has been up for two years and it took two years before the owls showed up. No other birds have tried to nest in the box. We have a very eco-friendly backyard; we live on an acre lot with lots of trees and plants for wildlife. We have had kestrels, bluebirds, hummingbirds, phoebes, wild ducks, killdeer and mockingbirds all nest and raise their young in our habitat. We do not have any cats or dogs to disturb the wildlife. This is our first owl to nest here. We have identified 58 different birds in our yard.

Female: 13 to 16 inches tall. Wingspan 43 inches
Male: 12 to 15 inches tall. Wingspan 42 inches

24 comments:

  1. Very, very nice.
    I would be interested in hearing about the technical setup - I see you posted what webcams you are using - but how do you power it, how do you run wires? The Logitech has a 6ft cord...is there a PC nearby controlling the cams?

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  2. I'm enjoying your feed very much.

    Does McGee bring the rabbits to Molly?

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  3. way cool. I am also curious about the techinical aspect. Another blog with some details on how you made it all happen would be neat.

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  4. To learn more about Barn Owls and nestbox construction, visit: http://members.cox.net/bluebirds/owl.htm

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  5. I am absolutely enthralled with this! And your property is gorgeous! Love Molly and McGee!

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  6. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I discovered Molly today on Twitter. She and McGee have quiet the following. I know I'm having trouble walking away from her....
    I live in Alabama but my husband has a cousin that lives just a few miles from you in Valley Center. We'll be watching......

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  7. Are there a lot of people outside of the owl box? As I am watching, all I hear is people chattering. Will that be a problem for Molly...can't be too calm and serene hearing lots of human voices right outside her box....just wondering

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  8. That's some great footage of these fantastic birds. I commend you! I'm currently selling a limited edition set of images, that I've taken and wondered if you'd mind linking our blogs. Loving some of your pics! Basil Fishcakes.

    http://www.guernseybirdnerd.com/apps/blog/show/3193190-available-soon-

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  9. Nice blog! And awesome setup in your backyard, I'll bet you couldn't have imagined that Molly and McGee would have taken off as they have! We are watching (all the way from Escondido :) with everyone else for the next owlet!

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  10. Thank you for the wonderful live feed! Are you on Facebook? If yes, would you please give us your FB URL?

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  11. It's curious that she frequently looks directly at the camera. Are you concerned that the noise is making her look and that that may be stressful?

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  12. Amazing,Thank you for the wonderful live feed!

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  13. This is really fantastic. Thankyou for sharing Molly and her family with us.

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  14. My husband and I are truly enjoying the live feed of Molly, McGee and the owlets....She is such a good little mother. I am so glad you posted Molly's house, it made us feel more attached..Hope you keep it up for a while so we can enjoy watching the babies grow and finally leave home!!! You have done an outstanding job...Thank you

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  15. Carlos,

    I don't know when you'll have time to answer this, but I think this whole thingis fantastic!! Thank you so much! And I love hearing you answering the kids' questions.

    Now I have a question: I live on about 13 acres in Virginia--mostly pasture, some woods at the edges. I have hawks, a heron, at least one Great Horned Owl, and lots of others. Should I consider putting up an owl box, or is it best to leave well enough alone? I do have bluebird boxes. I also have a couple of indoor/outdoor cats who mostly seem to like to lie under a tree and watch the birds, who don't seem at all upset. Once in a great while a cat will catch one, but that really is rare.

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  16. I would love to see McGee sleeping in the palm tree. It is quite a contrast to Molly's hectic life in the owl box!

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  17. Arlington, VA, USA

    Thank you for your efforts to show owls to the world!

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  18. Thank you so much for this beautiful experience and wonder of nature! Lake Mary, FL

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  19. Carlos and Donna - Thank you for the gift you have given to the world with this intimate glimpse into the life of a barn owl. I have learned so much from your conversations with school children and your announcements on screen. Keep them coming. I tune in every day for a few minutes with my day care kids and they love the baby owlets. Sincerely, Mary

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  20. I just found your live stream and have been watching it on my large flatscreen tv. this has been fascinating! thanks so much!!

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  21. I am hooked on watching Molly and McGee and their babies... I have NO IDEA why! And I'm all the way down in New Zealand!

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  22. I agree with Al, Can you give us any info on the physical setup of the cam and the wireing.
    Len

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