Barney and Bettye are back. It has been about 13 months since eggs were laid in the box last year so we wonder if timing normally varies this much. I wonder if eggs produced in the near future will subject owlets to heat stress. Also wonder what if anything we could do to promote a higher survival rate than last year ( 1/4 survived to adulthood). Saw on owl perching nearby on the earl am sunlight, beautiful to behold.
Some owl box owners provide a mister to their boxes to deal with the heat. I had hoped for a successful clutch this year but unfortunately it has started off bad with the invasion of the bees inside Betty's nest.
ReplyDeleteWow, never would have thought of a mister. Outside or inside? We had bees for a couple hours, they seem to have left. Did bees drive the owls out?
ReplyDeleteMisters are placed to the outside of the box with just a fine mist as needed to cool. Of course because Betty is in the box, this would have to be done once she leaves the box when the owlets are older. Or maybe wait till next yr before the owls roost
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