Johnathan contacted us directly to ask if he could install a couple of owl boxes at Middleton Mount. Of course we were delighted with this idea, and we arranged for Johnathan to visit at our next volunteers meeting, which was a beautiful September day.
Johnathan gave us a talk on the Owl boxes, he recycles materials which he asks for at building and development sites. Everything he uses might otherwise have gone into landfill. We learnt that Owls do not build nests, though they occasionally take over nests which other large birds have made and left. That Barn Owls are so light and fluffy, they cannot hunt in the rain, but must stay in the dry hungry until the rain passes. The boxes being erected in September means a good chance of an owl taking the box as a nesting box in the spring as they will roost in the boxes over winter and if they like it they will use it in the spring when they lay eggs. Owls lay there eggs at 2 – 4 day intervals, and if food is scarce they feed the first born, the largest Owlet first as they have the best chance of survival. They might even feed the younger chicks to the older chicks to ensure survival if hunting is scarce.
Thank you Johnathan for sharing your knowledge with us – for finding great spaces for the Owl boxes which we hope will be home soon for this magnificent species.
Whilst at the site, we all enjoyed drinks and homemade cake and the sunshine, spotting plenty of these fritillary butterflies and the wildlife on site.
