Our well used Barn Owl Box pictured above, with the new Little Owl box below. Little Owl male birds like to perch close to the nest. Baby Little Owls like to walk outside the nest before flying for the first time.
The Mayor’s odd job man was fully employed last week. Of course he doesn’t even qualify for a zero hours contract, nor does he by any means earn minimum wage. He realises that he is so lucky to work for the Mayor of Riley Green, that wages never enter his mind or his bank account.
Three Barn Owl boxes and one Little Owl box were made from quality plywood and countless screws. They are now all in position around our hamlet, in top secret locations. Last year’s success with barn owls, one pair managed to produce two litters, means that we are all hoping for even greater things this coming season. Last season’s parent owls have been spotted throughout the Winter and at least one of their off springs is regularly seen in a local hollow tree. There are two or three other breeding pairs around the district, so pretty soon Riley Green may become the Barn Owl epicentre of Lancashire.
The Little Owls have been here for several years, funnily enough they spent a few seasons in the specially designed Barn Owl box! When the Barn Owls arrived last year, the Little Owls conveniently moved out into the specially designed Little Owl box which had been empty & available for a few years!
There is a little trepidation around the hamlet, for the Barn Owls have often been seen during the winter, roosting on top of the Little Owl box. Often in an afternoon, a Little Owl screeches by it’s nesting box. We don’t know it it’s telling the Barn Owls to clear off, or calling for its mate. “Spring’s on the way dear, another busy time ahead!”
The video link barnowl 062 takes a long time to load & buffer. It’s best to click on the link and go for a brew.