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Guily the bound owl has lived here for 8 years and Dryer has been a partner for the last two. Drier was a rescued owl from 2019. Together they've raised six outlets, Thunder, Storm, and Cloud, Uno, and Autumn and Fall, plus a foster chick called Lucky. This year, their courtship began with a search for the perfect nest. They looked at several, but eventually they settled on elm.
Join me as I follow Gilfy and Dryer through their third breeding season together. Two eggs were laid and sadly only one hatched. Ace develops well and fletches as a healthy young barn owl. It's now midmay and Dry arrives with prey at Elm Stump and calls Guily in Food Deliveries, mating and alopining are all signs the courtship is going Now, and in early June, Guilford prepares the nest for laying. And a few days later, she reveals her first egg. Dry arrived soon after and mates to reaffirm their bonds. And again, it isn't long before Dryer returns and mates Gilfree.
Dryer spends his day in the nearby ash dump But soon there's an unexpected visitor. It's a Tony owl chick. It's one of Bomber and Luna's owllets, and it's come for a closer look. Drier isn't too sure. He isn't used to Tory owls being this dosile. But thankfully, this Tory owlet doesn't stay for very long. With Dryer on the lookout, Gelfie takes a chance to stretch her wings, and he can't resist having a turn with the eggs. but Guily senses something isn't right and returns just in time to stop him. The next day, dryer spice another opportunity.
This time rolling the eggs away from each other. But experienced Guily carefully rearranges them. Man, one difference I've noticed between barnals and tornels here at Father The alale is cleanliness. Tony keep their nests relatively clean. Adult toenails leave their nest regularly to defecate and pellet and break up their chicks pellets to keep the nest tidy. But the barn owls seem to have little care for cleanliness. But this does have an advantage. Guily rarely leaves the nest, so the eggs are well guarded. And keeps her supplied with regular food deliveries. Soon, Dryer will need to deliver even more.
Guilty has brooded these eggs for over a month now, and they're due to hatch. I spot her removing an eggshell. A sign a chick has arrived. The chick is tiny and still wet from hatching. Guily tries so hard not to stand on it, but knocks an egg away. Soon, this newly hatched chick is ready for its first meal. But a young kestrel brings the feed to an abrupt end. Guilty mantles to make herself look bigger to protect the clutch, spooking the young kestrel away. This altercation attracts the attention of Dryo.
He doesn't know the first egg has hatched, but stands protectively beside her. But when he sees the empty eggshell, he puts two and two together. But realizing that with an empty eggshell, there must be a chick. But Gilfy is sat tight. Dryer is bringing in so much prey, there is now a surplus which heaps around her. And now he gets his first glimpse of his chick. He's transfixed. It's now over a week since the first chick hatched. And no sign of a pip from the second egg. It won't hatch now. Looks like this owlet is going to be the only chick. But Guily doesn't know this and continues to incubate.
Ace looks hungry and at just 9 days old is trying to feed himself, pecking at a mouse, but he will need Guily's help with this one. Only a few days later, at 12 days old, Ace can swallow small prey Oh, all this food means ace develops quickly, opening its eyes, stretching its wings, and soon It's too big to brood, but spends its time cuddled up to guily by day and by night. By 13 days, Ace becomes more confident, starting to stand and even exploring the nest, but isn't very steady on his feet.
It's funny to watch him push along the unhatched egg around the nest. As Ace approaches 4 weeks old, he's largely left alone. Without siblings, this owlet spends its days preining, eating, playing with a feather, and sleeping. Guily now spends most of her time caught with dryer and preparing for a second brood. This is Guily's main focus now. It's now Dryer's sole responsibility to feed this chick. Guily needs to build up her reserves if she's going to lay. and sees an opportunity for an easy meal.
Next time Dryer delivers, she's waiting. And before it can get to Ace, she steals and needs all the food she can get to lay another clutch. But Guily's back again, searching for an easy meal. But Ace isn't going to tolerate it, posturing and giving chase. But Guily still manages to grab a mouse before leaving. That night, Guily has a change of heart. She returns to find some cash prey and offers it to Ace, but he doesn't seem hungry and his white down is molting.
He's becoming increasingly restless in the nest, and I'm surprised to see him almost playing football with the unhatched egg. And that night, at 43 days old, Ace clamas to the entrance. and takes in his first view of the outside world. This is relatively young for this owlet to be at the entrance, but a delivery from Dryex soon temps him back into the nest. Over the next week, Ace spends most of his time practicing skills for life beyond the nest, strengthening flight muscles, and is spending a lot of time at the nest entrance. So, it's time to fit this outlet with its identification ring.
With the help of Jean Thorp, a licensed bird ringer, we get a B2 ID ring fitted. Weigh it and give it a quick once over all as fast as possible to minimize disturbance. Ace is back in a nest entrance that night and he hops onto the platform below and away. Dryer arrives with food, but the nest is empty. Bal chicks still rely on the adults for food after fledging. Sways return soon calling out With my network of remote cameras, I can monitor ASUS movements beyond Elm. And it's fantastic to see this young owl around Fatherdale.
He explores beach stump and even seen him interacting with a young female at the feeding post. With a unique BTO ring number, I will be able to identify Ace if he returns and settles here. It's been amazing to follow the breeding season of Guily and Dryer again. Sadly, one egg didn't hatch. But I followed Ace's journey all the way from hatching to fledging. And he seems to be doing well here at Fatherdale. And in the end, Gilfy and Dryer haven't had a second brood this year. So fingers crossed for next year.
