Subject: [Tweeters] Barred Owls
Date: Mar 19 11:12:04 2010
From: owler at sounddsl.com - owler at sounddsl.com


Tweeters,

Those Barred Owls that are nesting this season went on eggs the first week
in March. The female is the sole incubator (she will have a noticable
brood patch when off the nest), and the male is the sole provider for the
family for the next six weeks until the young are at a stage in growth
where they are able to regulate their body temperature. The female then
hunts very locally to the nest for this period. Once the young become
branchers, the female expands her hunting area.

My guess is that those of you who are hearing Barred Owls calling are
fairly close to a nest site. The female will come off the nest at the
male's call, for a food delivery. This is also the time when the pair
bond is reinforced with the notoriuos caterwaulling sounds. Allowpreening
and copulation may also occur with these off egg times.

J. Acker
owler at sounddsl.com
Bainbridge Island, WA