We should be able to hear the Barred Owl baby chirping inside the egg before it hatches. Owlguy says the mic is so good inside the box that we'll be able to hear it when it chirps.
Here's a video from 2012 where the babies were heard inside their eggs.

Published on Jan 28, 2014 by Paul Yorke

Not sure, but it might just be the egg talking in the background.

The mods and chatters have heard chirping from the egg tonight! We'll have a hatch soon! YIPPEE!!!

The chirps are loud this morning. Hatch is going on! Woo Hoo! Mom is talking to the baby and encouraging it to come on out and meet her.

PIP!!!!
Here is the latest from Owlguy's Facebook.

Here is a screen capture, if you look real close you can see the opening (PIP) in the egg. This allows the owlet to start its hatch process. Also makes its chirps sound much louder.

HATCH!!!

Published on Jan 31, 2014 by Paul Yorke

Not much of a look but just hours after hatch.



I think this video below was from yesterday. The egg hasn't hatched yet and it's raining. It's soooo cute! Listen!

Published on Jan 31, 2014 by Paul Yorke

Mom goes out, egg (out of view) cherps. Mom returns and assures the owlet. -

This is probably little Boo's first real feeding: a bird, feathers and all!

Mrs. B was so still staring into the cam for the longest time this morning. If it weren't for a little bug flying around in the background I would have thought my screen was frozen.
Mr. B brought his family a headless rabbit. I copied Grandad Rufus's pic and attached below. He also gave some good info on the owlet's development. Thanks Grandad Rufus!

8:15 Grandad_Rufus: Here's one to ponder on
8:15 Grandad_Rufus: 100 grams / 3.6 ounces of Wild Rabbit contains 114 Calories; Protein 22g; Fat 2.3g; Cholesterol 81mg
8:16 Grandad_Rufus: But I can't find anything for wild birds!
8:19 Grandad_Rufus: Pigeon and Quail
8:19 Grandad_Rufus: 100 grams / 3.6 ounces of Raw Pigeon offer total 294 calories / 215 calories from Fat; protein 18g; Cholesterol 95mg
8:20 Grandad_Rufus: But pigeon is not like bluebird / Starling etc

8:43 Grandad_Rufus: Female will feed them tiny morsels for the first 2 weeks (Jan 31 – Feb 14) At about 2-3 wk of age, young begin consuming prey on their own and (Feb 14 – 21)
8:44 Grandad_Rufus: At approximately 4-5 wk of age, flightless young leave the nest to branch (Feb 28 – Mar 7) They will not return to the box - but will be tended by the parents on the branch.
8:44 Grandad_Rufus: Young begin short flights at approximately 10 wk of age, (April 11 – 18 ) Attaining longer flights by 12 wk (April 25 – 30)

8:45 Grandad_Rufus: Natal down is replaced by white-tipped gray-buff secondary down at approximately 2–3 wk, and primaries begin rapid growth.
8:45 Grandad_Rufus: Molt into adult plumage begins at approximately 6 wk. Feathers on back scapulars appear first, followed by abdomen and flanks, and upper breast.
8:45 Grandad_Rufus: Down still apparent on head at 4 mo. Adult plumage is attained by 5–6 mo ( Bent 1938 ).

Like all owls, this one will grow so fast and leave the box in 4-5 weeks. We'd better watch fast and not miss out before it's gone!

Can it get any cuter than this?

From OwlWatch Facebook

Boo is smiling that rabbit is on the menu for dinner 3 days old

I am in love with Barred Owls.

Mom was straightening the house and then decided to clean the baby. It was so funny. It reminded me of trying to wash and clean a human baby the way Boo was squirming and trying to dodge it's mom. Owlguy said it was the second time today that he'd seen Mrs. B do this to Boo.
I had to make a little video.

Grandad Rufus shared this link on Barred Owl feathers.

http://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/feat...BDOW_wing_adult

Published on Feb 5, 2014 by Paul Yorke

Mrs Barred Owl, feeds a frog to Boo (our Owlet)

Boo is 6 days old today. I appreciate Boo hatching on the 31st because all I have to do is look at today's date to know how many days old it is. Boo is already sitting up nice and strong and can swallow whole frog legs and heads as you can see in the video above. I think Boo ate that whole entire frog piece by piece! Not bad for a little squirt! LOL! Rapid growth is happening right before our eyes. I love it's little whistling voice and Mom talking to it.

From Facebook this morning:
OwlWatch
This morning we could see Boo's eyes are half open. Another big step for Boo.

Here are some new videos published by Paul Yorke.






(this video was from Feb. 3 but just published today)

ROFLMBO!!!! You've got to watch the first couple of minutes of this one twice. Once to watch in amazement at our little Boo chugging it's first whole frog at 6 days old and then watch it again and watch Mom's face. LOL


published by Paul Yorke