Courtship on the Barn Owl Webcam
April 6, 2017
This week we have seen lots of courtship activity from our Barn Owl pair.
Generally barn owls will engage in mutual preening and frequent mating for at least 10 days before any eggs appear. If you listen carefully you may be able to hear their little twittering noises as they preen each other.
We have not yet witnessed the female calling for food from the box or the male bringing her food – have you?
This is another courtship phase which would probably happen at prime hunting time in the evening. After the male brings her food, she may allow him to mate with her.
Although Barn Owls do not make a ‘nest’ in the traditional way, they tend to use any debris that already exists in the nesting place. In this instance it is the old pellets (regurgitated, undigested bones and fur) which are already in the bottom of the box. Our female has been seen ‘preparing the ground’ breaking up pellets, scraping the ground and walking up and down to flatten the area. A good sign.
We are now eagerly awaiting the first egg.