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Peak District Retreat Blog

Wildlife and general news about the Retreat and its environment

A blog to share barn owl and other wildlife and general news about the Retreat and its environment. 

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Female barn owl retrieves the absentee male to the nestbox

06. May 2025 - Wildlife
Show larger version for: Two barn owls returning to the nest box

Our male barn owl has been something of an absentee mate. He rarely spends the night in the nest box, and isn't very good at bringing prey to feed the brooding female.

One evening it appeared as though she 'snapped' and stormed out to fetch him back! She must have known where to find him (there aren't many pubs near us...) as she was only gone for 3-4 minutes and then chased him back.

She appeared to shepherd him back into the box, whereupon he started screeching and stamping as if to say “I don't want to be here! I'm not supposed to be here!”

It didn't cure him - he has continued to be absent most of the time, though usually visits overnight and brings a few voles.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/6gMdgtIHnl8 

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