Wildlife and general news blog about the Retreat and its environment

The fifth and youngest owlet continued to roost in the box every day until a couple of days ago, the others having left some time ago.

It is now roosting by day in a tree instead, only about 20m from the nest box. I have been doing some maintenance in our holiday accommodation and had a clear view of it from the landing window for most of the day today and yesterday. It was sleeping much of the time, but clearly also saw me looking at it and photographing it but was not disturbed. The young ones are very trusting even when seen, and hence are vulnerable to predators. Soon they will learn to be wary of people and other animals.

But each evening two to four of the five owlets return to the box, hoping a parent will bring them some food. Sometimes they do but that will stop soon as they are all now old enough to hunt for themselves. Soon they will disperse properly and will stop returning to the box.